HC Deb 25 May 1995 vol 260 c770W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the number of people currently diagnosed as asthmatic. [25955]

Mr. Sackville

There are no comprehensive data on the number of people with a diagnosis of asthma. However, it has been estimated that the prevalence of asthma sufficiently severe to require regular medical supervision is from 4 to 6 per cent, in children and about 4 per cent, in adults. More information is given in "Asthma: An Epidemiological Overview", published on 22 March, copies of which are available in the Library.