HC Deb 16 December 1997 vol 303 c105W
Sir Patrick Cormack

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from allergic reactions to(a) peanuts and (b) other foodstuffs during (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996. [20388]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 12 December 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Tim Holt to Sir Patrick Cormack, dated 16 December 1997: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent question on the number of deaths due to allergic reactions from peanuts and other foodstuffs in 1995 and 1996. The figures are given in the table:

Deaths certified as due to allergic reactions from peanuts and other foodstuffs, England and Wales, 1995 and 1996
Peanuts Other foodstuffs
1995 2 3
1996 0 3

Three deaths in 1995 mentioned allergic reaction to "nuts". These have been classified under "other foodstuffs" although they may have involved peanuts.