§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths, where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate as the main or contributory cause of death, took place in England and Wales in 1997 among those(a) of all ages, (b) aged 60 to 74, (c) aged 74 to 84 and (d) aged over 85 years; what were the winter mortality rates for (i) the population as a whole, (ii) people aged 60 to 74, (iii) people aged 75 to 84 and (iv) people aged 85 years and over; and what the percentage increase was in each group compared to non-winter deaths in 1997–98. [62794]
§ Ms HewittThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Eddie O'Hara, dated 8 December 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on deaths from hypothermia and winter morality rates.The information requested is shown below.
Deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 1997 Ages Number All Ages 357 60–74 51 75–84 127 85 and over 127
Excess winter mortality, England and Wales, 1997–981 Age Excess winter deaths 2 Percentage increase in mortality in winter All ages 23,680 14 60–74 5,050 11 75–84 7,960 14 85 and over 9,180 19 1 provisional 2 rounded to the nearest 10 Excess winter deaths are defined as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average of the number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).