HC Deb 08 March 1988 vol 129 cc160-1W
21. Mr. Summerson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the causes of the 30-year decline, in England, in excess winter mortality.

66. Mr. Carttiss

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further information he can provide on recent trends in the incidence of winter mortality among elderly people.

69. Mr. Hind

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the causes of the 30-year decline, in England, in excess winter mortality.

73. Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further information he can provide on recent trends in the incidence of winter mortality among elderly people.

Mrs. Currie

Since 1958 there has been a clear downward trend in excess winter mortality. For England and Wales, it averaged 55.6 per cent. between 1958 and 1962, dropping to 28.6 per cent., or around 37,000 cases each winter, between 1983 and 1987. The causal relationship between cold weather and excess winter mortality is not clearly understood, and further research is needed. We hope that the Medical Research Council will be able to help out in this area.