HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 c630W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the total number of recorded cot deaths in England and Wales for each of the past five years.

Mr. Sackville

The information is shown in the table:

Cot deaths to infants and children aged under 5, England and Wales 1989–33
Year SIDS1 Sudden infant deaths2
1989 1,261 1,367
1990 1,156 1,246
1991 935 1,051
1992 515 579
1993 (provisional) 422 457
1 Deaths where sudden infant death syndrome—International classification of Diseases 9th Revision 798.0—is the only cause mentioned on the death certificate.
2 Deaths where "SIDS", "Cot Death", or similar terms, was mentioned with other causes on the certificate.
3 The figures for 1989–92 are based on annual registrations. The figures for 1993 are based on occurrences.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of all recorded cot deaths in England and Wales in the last five years were attributable to(a) colds and bronchial conditions, (b) emissions from plastic bedding and (c) urine and its reaction with bedding.

Mr. Sackville

The causes of sudden infant death syndrome remain unknown and substantial Government-funded and voluntary sector research continues in this area. It is not possible to attribute incidence by the categories mentioned.

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