The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 July 2008:"As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (1) how many deaths from cancer in England there were in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007; and (2) how many deaths from cardiovascular disease in England there were in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007. (220572, 220573)""The table attached provides the numbers of deaths in England where (1) cancer and (2) cardiovascular disease was the underlying cause of death, in (a) 2005 and (b) 2007." Table 1: Number of deaths with an underlying cause of (1) cancer and (2) cardiovascular disease¹, England, 2005 and 2007² Deaths (persons) Cause of death 2005 2007 Cancer 126,274 127,759 Cardiovascular disease 171,040 158,604 ¹ Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97 for cancer, and 100-199 for cardiovascular disease. ² Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.