§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on seasonal and year-on trends of hospital admissions for breathing and lung-related illness; and what effort he is making to explore the links between acid air and these trends.
§ Mr. DorrellThe available information on recent yearly trends is given in the table and shows the estimated number of in-patients treated where the main condition could be attributed to a breathing or lung-related illness. Information on the seasonal trends in the admission of these patients could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. When the executive summary of the first report of the advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution was published on 8, May, in a reply to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) at column495, I announced that the group was continuing its work. This includes examining available information regarding the effects upon health of such levels of sulphur dioxide and acid aerosols as occur in the United Kingdom. A report should be available in early 1992.