HC Deb 19 January 2000 vol 342 cc514-6W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 436W, on winter deaths, if he will assess the contribution of influenza and related conditions to the statistics for excess winter deaths. [105432]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The 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. Steve Webb, dated 19 January 2000: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question, pursuant to my answer of 20th December, Official Report, column 436W, on winter deaths, to assess the contribution of influenza and related conditions to the statistics for excess winter deaths. A breakdown of deaths by influenza, and other selected causes, is given in the attached table for the last five winters for which final figures are available. Influenza activity is known to lead to an increase in respiratory deaths generally, and not just influenza deaths. The figures presented are for all deaths occurring in England and Wales. These include deaths of non-residents, which were not included in the regional figures provided in the previous response. Excess winter deaths are defined by ONS as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).

Mr. Webb

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 436W, on excess winter deaths, if he will provide a breakdown by age for each year of data. [105431]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The 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. Steve Webb, dated 19 January 2000: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question, pursuant to my answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 436W, on excess winter deaths, to provide a breakdown by age for each year of data. The information requested is provided in the attached table for all deaths occurring in England and Wales. These figures include deaths of non-residents, which were not included in the regional figures provided in the previous response. Excess winter deaths are defined by ONS as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).

Excess winter mortality, winter 1988–89 to winter 1997–98, England and Wales
Year 0–64 65–74 75–84 85+ All ages
1988–89 1,720 4,260 8,090 7,100 21,160
1989–90 3,930 8,580 18,510 16,180 47,200
1990–91 2,960 7,070 14,660 13,250 37,940
1991–92 2,740 6,360 13,500 12,250 34,850
1992–93 2,120 4,720 9,330 9,490 25,650
1993–94 2,120 4,160 9,290 10,330 25,900
1994–95 2,200 5,490 9,700 9,910 27,290
1995–96 2,900 7,070 14,370 15,850 40,190
1996–97 3,040 6,970 17,540 20,140 47,680
1997–98 1,700 4,200 7,870 9,130 22,900