§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of adults in Britain suffering from(a) Parkinson's disease, (b) multiple sclerosis, (c) the effects of strokes and (d) brain damage after road accidents.
§ Mrs. CurrieI regret that no information is available centrally to enable firm estimates to be made. However, the right hon. Member may wish to refer to a recent article by Dr. D. T. Wade and Dr. R. Langton Hewer in "International Rehabilitation Medicine" (1987; volume 8, No. 3 pp 129–137), on the epidemiology of some neurological diseases with special reference to work load in the National Health Service, of which a copy has been placed in the Library. This suggests that it is reasonable to assume a prevalence of 160 per 100,000 population for 181W Parkinson's disease; 100 per 100,000 population for multiple sclerosis; 600 per 100,000 population for stroke, with 360 per 100,000 being disabled; and 300 per 100,000 population for disabled survivors of head injury (from all causes). The nature and degree of disability involved will of course vary widely.