§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest information he has regarding the mortality rates of people according to socio-economic class; and how this compares with the position 10 years ago.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe latest available figures on social class mortality differentials are for the sample of persons in the OPCS longitudinal study, based on their deaths in 1976–81 and their occupations at the time of the 1971 census. Previous figures were from the Registrar General's Decennial Supplement 1970–72, and these were based on deaths in 1970–72, occupations of the deceased from death registrations, and occupations of the population from the 1971 census. The figures are given below but they are not fully comparable because the occupation shown on the death certificates does not necessarily agree with the occupation recorded in the census. The figures are discussed in an article inPopulation Trends 40, pages 10 to 16.
The table shows the standardised mortality ratios for men aged 15 to 64 from these two sources, taking all men as 100.
Standardised mortality ratios England and Wales Decennial supplement Longitudinal study 1970–72 1976–81 Class I 77 66 II 81 77 III N 99 105 III M 106 96 Iv 114 109 V 137 124