HC Deb 26 February 1997 vol 291 cc238-9W
Mr. Austin-Walker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the incidence of gastroschisis per 1,000 births for each health authority area for the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [17276]

(2) if he will list the number of cases of gastroschisis per 1,000 births in each year since 1970. [17278]

Mrs. Angela Knight

[holding answer 24 February 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 Mr. John Austin-Walker, dated 26 February 1997: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent question concerning the number of cases of gatroschisis per 1,000 births in each year since 1970. The table below shows data for Anomalies of Abdominal wall (International Classification of Diseases 9th revision code 756.7) which include exomphalos, gastroschisis and prune belly (syndrome). Gastroschisis figures are only available separately at a disproportionate cost. The data are shown from 1979, as before then it was not available on a comparable basis. The rates are calculated per 10,000 live/stillbirths.

Number of cases and rates1 for anomalies of abdominal wall in England and Wales, 1979 to 1993
Year Number of cases Rates1
1979 188 2.9
1980 184 2.8
1981 166 2.6
1982 162 2.6
1983 168 2.7
1984 122 1.9
1985 126 1.9
1986 125 1.9
1987 134 2.0
1988 147 2.1
1989 133 1.9
1990 174 2.5
1991 165 2.3
1992 144 2.1
1993 149 2.2
1 Rates per 10,000 live/stillbirths.
You also asked for the incidence of gastroschisis per 1,000 births for each health authority area for the most recent year for which figures are available. This information is available in Table 4A of the Annual Reference Volume publication: Series MB3 no. 9 Congenital Malformation Statistics 1993, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. The table shows data for Anomalies of abdominal wall (International Classification of Disease 9th revision code 756.7) under the heading of exomphalos, gastroschisis. Again, figures dealing solely with gastroschisis are not available except at disproportionate cost. I hope this reply has been helpful.