HC Deb 12 November 1997 vol 300 cc600-1W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the effects of cold weather on the health of the elderly. [15639]

Mr. Boateng

There are currently no plans to commission any such research. It is known that mortality rises steeply in winter and that the increase in deaths is chiefly among people 60 or older. The Department, in partnership with the Benefits Agency and the voluntary sector, runs an annual campaign—Keep Warm, Keep Well—which aims to provide information on health, benefits and home improvement during the winter.