§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in(a) the UK and (b) Huddersfield in each year since 1997. [163387]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Sheerman dated 29 March 2004:
1233WAs National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in (a) the UK and (b) Huddersfield in each year since 1997. (163387)The latest year for which figures are currently available is 2002. Figures for the United Kingdom and Kirklees metropolitan district, which includes Huddersfield parliamentary constituency, are shown in the attached table from 1997 to 2002.The number of deaths in Huddersfield constituency was below five in all but one of these years. Where the numbers of deaths was less than five the exact number has been suppressed to reduce the risk of disclosure of individual cases.
Number of deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning1 in Kirklees2and the United Kingdom, 1997 to 20023 Calendar year Kirklees United Kingdom 1997 13 934 1998 4— 803 1999 6 747 2000 6 601 2001 4— 545 2002 4— 469 Total 35 4,099 1The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes for the years 1997 to 1999 for Scotland, 1997 to 2000 for England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes for 2000 to 2002 for Scotland, and 2001 to 2002 for England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. The codes used were as follows:
Toxic effect of carbon monoxide—ICD-9 986; ICD-10 T58. The majority of deaths with a nature of injury code of toxic effect of carbon monoxide poisoning are suicides, (75 per cent. of carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in England and Wales in 1997; 69 per cent. in 2002). Some deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are also of undetermined intent, homicides or the result of fires. A small proportion are the result of accidental poisoning (7 per cent. in England and Wales in 1997 and in 2002).
2 Usual residents of Kirklees metropolitan district.
3 Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year in England and Wales, and deaths registered in each calendar year in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
4 Fewer than five deaths.
Sources:
Office for National Statistics.General Register Office for Scotland.Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.