HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 c544W
Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of asthma in West London is including percentage change over the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the latest information on causation. [76097]

Mr. Hutton

Prevalence data—the percentage of the population affected with asthma at a given time—is not available for specific areas such as west London, but figures for the United Kingdom are held.

An estimated 5.1 million people in the UK—1.4 million adults and 3.7 million children, one in 13 and one in eight respectively—are currently receiving treatment for asthma. An estimated eight million people in the UK have been diagnosed with asthma at some stage in their lives.

Information on admissions to hospital for asthma* in west London is detailed in the table.