§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in England and Wales of road traffic fatalities; and if he will estimate what proportion of the cost is related to drunken driving.
§ Mr. WhitneyI understand that the hon. Member is referring to the cost to the National Health Service of treating road traffic fatalities. In 1983, the last year for 229W which the relevant hospital statistics are available, the cost of treating road accident fatalities (defined as patients dying within 30 days of admission to hospital or those dead on arrival) is estimated at £1.3 million for England. A comparable figure for the rest of the United Kingdom is not available. It is not possible to estimate the proportion of the cost to the National Health Service attributable to drunken driving.