HC Deb 19 November 1996 vol 285 cc528-9W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) people and (b) children under the age of 18 years have been diagnosed as alcoholics in England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [4413]

Mr. Burns

I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) on 7 November,Official Report, columns 627–28.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the connection between drinking at an early age and alcohol-related problems in later life. [4409]

Mr. Burns

None. However, the Department is commissioning work to produce estimates of alcohol-related mortality, which will form a basis from which estimates of life years lost due to alcohol-related illness could be made.