HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc254-5W
Mr. Davidson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland for each of the past 10 years in the period December to March; [39010]

(2) what the excess winter mortality rates have been in Northern Ireland for each of the last 10 years expressed in both excess numbers and as percentages. [39011]

Sir John Wheeler

Responsibility for the subject has been delegated to the Statistics and Research Agency under its chief executive, Mr. E. F. Jardine. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. F. Jardine to Mr. Ian Davidson, dated 22 July 1996:

You recently tabled two questions asking the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland for each of the past 10 years in the period December to March. and what the excess Winter mortality rates have been for each of the last 10 years expressed in both excess numbers and as percentages. I have been asked to reply in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.The information provided in the attached table shows the total number of deaths and the excess winter mortality rates for the period December to March for each of the last 10 years compared against the number of expected deaths for the same period (based on the average for the year). I trust this information is sufficient and if I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Table showing excess deaths/death rates in winter period December to March
Deaths 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1989–90 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Expected for (December-March) 5,266 5,376 5,095 5,315 5,034 5,374 5,044 5,003 5,157 5,118 5,080
Actual deaths in (December-March)2 — — — — — — — — — — —
Expected deaths in (December-March) 506 846 444 581 262 1,220 729 545 126 517 487
Difference as percentage of expected deaths in (December-March) 9.61 15.74 8.71 10.93 5.20 22.70 14.45 10.89 2.44 10.10 9.19
Actual Death rate (December-March) 11.12 11.91 10.55 11.21 10.04 12.45 10.81 10.28 9.71 10.30 10.09
Expected Death rate (December—March) 10.14 10.29 9.70 10.10 9.54 10.14 9.45 9.27 9.48 9.35 9.24
1 One third of annual deaths.
2 Excess deaths in period December to March.