§ 18. Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what inequalities in Health and life expectancy exist between different regions in England. [7961]
§ Ms JowellSubstantial inequalities in health and life expectancy exist between different regions in England. For example, in the early 1990s, there were regional variations in life expectancy at birth of more than three years for males and two and a half years for females. In 1992 East Anglia had the longest life expectation at 75.4 years for men and 80.3 years for women, while North Western had the worst at 72.3 years for men and556W 77.6 years for women. Regional variations in certain measures of health are even greater. On the basis of the 1991 census question on limiting long standing illness, it has been estimated that the expected number of years of life in good health varies between the best and the worst region by six and a half years for men and five years for women.
§ 36. Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relative(a) health and (b) life expectancy of different ethnic groups in England. [7979]
§ Ms JowellInformation on health in certain ethnic groups is available from various surveys and the 1991 census included specific questions on health and ethnicity. A collation of key information, "Ethnicity and Health: a guide for the NHS" was published in 1993 by the Department of Health and a new edition is in preparation.
The fourth national survey of ethnic minorities, which was co-ordinated by the Policy Studies Institute, was the largest study of ethnic minorities ever carried out in Britain. An initial report which included a chapter on health was published earlier this year. More detailed reports on the physical and mental health of ethnic minorities are due out shortly.
Although there are currently no data readily available on life expectancy in different ethnic groups the Acheson inquiry will be looking at inequalities in health, including those related to ethnicity, since this is a topic of considerable importance. Furthermore, detailed studies of mortality by country of birth have been performed which indicate marked differences from the national average in specific sub groups. For example, there are high rates of stroke mortality in people under 65 years among those born on the Indian subcontinent and in the Caribbean and African Commonwealth.