§ Mr. FryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths have been reported as a result of inhaling from aerosols in the current year and in each of the preceding three years.
§ Mrs. CurrieI have been asked to reply.
The most complete data available come from a continuing study carried out by the department of clinical epidemiology and social medicine of St. George's hospital medical school, London. This study—the national study of deaths associated with the abuse of volatile substances—collects data from a variety of sources, including death registrations and a survey of coroners' findings.
553WThe data for both 1987 and 1988 should be regarded as provisional.
Number of deaths associated with the abuse of aerosols (England and Wales) Year Number 1985 10 1986 14 1987 27 1988 (up to October) 18