§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest information he has on the morbidity associated with asthma in terms of lost schooling and sickness absence.
§ Mr. DorrellThere is significant morbidity associated with asthma in terms of lost schooling and sickness absence. More than 5.5 million days of certified sickness absence were recorded in Britain in 1987–88, representing about 7 million actual days lost. Information is not available centrally on absences from school associated with asthma.
§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will designate the effective treatment and care of asthma as one of the first set of key areas for targeting;
(2) what responses he has received relating to asthma in response to his White Paper "The Health of the Nation" Cm. 1523.
§ Mr. DorrellNo decision has yet been made on which key areas will be included in the White Paper. We have received 2,050 responses to the Green Paper. Many of these welcomed the suggestion that asthma should be a priority area for the White Paper.