§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total number of deaths from asbestos-related diseases in the UK for each of the last five years for which figures are available broken down by(a) region and (b) occupation. [113328]
§ Mr. MeacherThe figures available are set out in the tables. These detail the deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis in Great Britain between 1993 and 1997 by region and by occupational group. Occupational information is only available for people aged under 75 at the time of death and has only been recorded in the Health and Safety Executive's register of asbestosis deaths since 1995. No information is available for asbestos-related lung cancer because it cannot be medically distinguished from lung cancer from other causes.
A more detailed breakdown of the figures on mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain by occupation and by geographical distribution, published by the Health and Safety Executive, will be placed in the House of Commons Library. 113W
Table 1: Mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain by region 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 North 114 112 119 118 145 Yorkshire and Humberside 91 120 120 130 106 North West 111 128 127 121 152 West Midlands 74 82 84 85 99 East Midlands 70 58 79 76 71 South West 103 93 96 116 105 East Anglia 39 38 50 57 50 South East excluding Greater London 228 297 298 291 282 Greater London 140 134 138 137 154 Wales 51 51 53 50 53 Scotland 122 128 150 123 113 Overseas — — 3 — — Great Britain 1,143 1,241 1,317 1,304 1,330
Table 3: Mesothelioma deaths aged under 75 in Great Britain by occupational order group 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Professional and related supporting management; senior national and local government managers 27 20 27 26 23 Professional and related in education, welfare and health 24 27 32 21 25 Literary, artistic and sports 5 — 5 6 2 Professional and related in science, engineering, technology and similar fields 39 42 48 44 50 Managerial 75 64 82 70 80 Clerical and related 44 60 57 52 44 Selling 18 19 17 14 18 Security and protective services 8 25 15 16 20 Catering, cleaning, hairdressing and other personal service 31 34 34 31 39 Farming, fishing and related 5 8 8 4 5 Materials processing; making and repairing (excluding metal and electrical) 79 99 94 110 75 Processing, making, repairing and related (metal and electrical) 259 244 261 260 272 Painting, repetitive assembling, product inspecting, packaging and related 43 37 41 42 32 Construction, mining and related not identified elsewhere 46 81 79 74 90 Transport operating, materials moving and storing and related 58 70 68 65 77 Miscellaneous 37 46 49 46 41 Occupation not stated on death certificate 59 61 55 52 47 All occupations 857 937 972 933 940
Table 4: Asbestosis deaths (excluding those also mentioning mesothelioma) aged under 75 in Great Britain by occupational order group 1995 1996 1997 Professional and related supporting management; senior national and local government managers 1 — — Professional and related in education, welfare and health 1 1 — Literary, artistic and sports 1 — 1 Professional and related in science, engineering, technology and similar fields — 1 1 Managerial 2 2 6 Clerical and related 1 2 2 Selling — — 2 Security and protective services 3 4 2 Catering, cleaning, hairdressing and other personal service 3 9 3 Farming, fishing and related — — 3 Materials processing; making and repairing (excluding metal and electrical) 12 5 10 Processing, making, repairing and related (metal and electrical) 32 46 47 Painting, repetitive assembling, product inspecting, packaging and related 1 4 6 Construction, mining and related not identified elsewhere 23 23 17 Transport operating, materials moving and storing and related 9 6 4 Miscellaneous 6 12 5 Occupation not stated on death certificate 6 3 2 All occupations 101 118 111