§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the rates of asthma among people living in the health authority areas covering(a) Gatwick and (b) Heathrow airports, relative to the national average. [61894]
§ Ms JowellThere are no comprehensive data on the number of people with asthma. Asthma is estimated to affect 4 per cent. of adults and between 4 and 6 per cent. of children sufficiently severely to require medical supervision. Information is not available centrally on the rates of asthma in West Sussex and Hillingdon health authorities, which cover Gatwick and Heathrow airports respectively.