COT DEATHS (Hansard, 30 November 1987)

Baroness Vickers
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the numbers of deaths registered as cot death, sudden infant syndrome or in similar terms under the age of 1 year in England and Wales in 1986, in total, and divided by age as follows: less than 1 week, 1–3 weeks, and 4 weeks to 1 year, and for each month of the year; and whether they will subdivide the total according to socio-economic class.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)
I regret that the information requested on cot deaths for 1986 is not yet available. There has been a change this year in the computer processing systems which has delayed unavoidably the production of these statistics. However it is hoped that the figures will become available in the next four to five weeks.

Baroness Vickers
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish when available the numbers of live births and still births and infant deaths under the age of 1 year divided into under 1 week, 1–3 weeks and 4–51 weeks (age at death) in Scotland and in Northern Ireland for 1986, and the numbers of deaths registered as cot death, sudden infant death syndrome or in similar terms under the age of 1 year in Scotland and in Northern Ireland for 1986, in total, and for each month of the year and as a percentage of infant deaths from all causes.

§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)
The information is as follows:

Live births, stillbirths and infant deaths 1986

Scotland Northern Ireland

Live Births 65,812 28,152

Stillbirths 385 125

Infant Deaths:

Under 1 week 288 143

1–3 weeks 55 26

4–51 weeks 238 117

All Infant Deaths 581 286

922WA

Infant Deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, 1986^*

Scotland Northern Ireland

Number Percentage of all Infant Deaths Number Percentage of all Infant Deaths

Total 148 25.5 64 22.4

January 12 24.5 4 12.1

February 12 30.0 6 30.0

March 16 28.1 1 7.7

April 15 24.2 8 25.8

May 12 26.7 10 32.3

June 9 22.0 13 44.8

July 8 18.6 7 24.1

August 6 13.3 3 23.1

September 13 25.5 0 —

October 13 27.7 2 11.1

November 14 37.8 6 26.1

December 18 28.1 4 16.7

^*The figures for Scotland show the number of deaths registered with any mention of 'cot death', 'sudden infant death syndrome' or similar term, irrespective of whether it did or did not appear as the underlying cause of death; the figures for Northern Ireland relate to underlying cause of death only.

Live births, stillbirths and infant deaths 1986
	Scotland	Northern Ireland
Live Births	65,812	28,152
Stillbirths	385	125
Infant Deaths:
Under 1 week	288	143
1–3 weeks	55	26
4–51 weeks	238	117
All Infant Deaths	581	286

Infant Deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, 1986^*
	Scotland	Northern Ireland
	Number	Percentage of all Infant Deaths	Number	Percentage of all Infant Deaths
Total	148	25.5	64	22.4
January	12	24.5	4	12.1
February	12	30.0	6	30.0
March	16	28.1	1	7.7
April	15	24.2	8	25.8
May	12	26.7	10	32.3
June	9	22.0	13	44.8
July	8	18.6	7	24.1
August	6	13.3	3	23.1
September	13	25.5	0	—
October	13	27.7	2	11.1
November	14	37.8	6	26.1
December	18	28.1	4	16.7
^*The figures for Scotland show the number of deaths registered with any mention of 'cot death', 'sudden infant death syndrome' or similar term, irrespective of whether it did or did not appear as the underlying cause of death; the figures for Northern Ireland relate to underlying cause of death only.