HC Deb 05 November 2003 vol 412 c697W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of smoking-related deaths were due to(a) lung cancer, (b) heart attack, (c) stroke and (d) chronic lung disease in 2002. [133924]

Miss Melanie Johnson

These data are not available in the form requested. However, an estimate of the proportion of deaths in the United Kingdom that were caused by smoking was made by the Health Education Authority in its 1998 report: "The UK Smoking Epidemic: Deaths in 1995". The table shows the proportions of all deaths caused by smoking for each of these diseases for people aced 35 and over.

Estimated number and percentage of deaths caused by smoking: United Kingdom, 1995
Disease Number of deaths Percentage of total (net) deaths
Total (net) 121,700 100
Total (gross) 123,000
Deaths from diseases caused by smoking:
Cancer 46,500 38
Respiratory 34,300 28
Circulatory 40,300 33
Digestive 1,900 2

Note:

The percentages add up to 101 per cent. because the percentages have been based on the net total number of deaths. The net number of deaths takes into account the estimated number of deaths which may be prevented in part by smoking.

Source:

Health Education Authority: "The UK Smoking Epidemic: Deaths in 1995".