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Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Answer

Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 436W, on winter deaths, if he will assess the contribution of influenza and related conditions to the statistics for excess winter deaths. [105432] Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 19 January 2000: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question, pursuant to my answer of 20{th} December, Official Report, column 436W, on winter deaths, to assess the contribution of influenza and related conditions to the statistics for excess winter deaths. A breakdown of deaths by influenza, and other selected causes, is given in the attached table for the last five winters for which final figures are available. Influenza activity is known to lead to an increase in respiratory deaths generally, and not just influenza deaths. The figures presented are for all deaths occurring in England and Wales. These include deaths of non-residents, which were not included in the regional figures provided in the previous response. Excess winter deaths are defined by ONS as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July). Excess winter deaths by underlying cause of death, England and Wales, winter 1993-94 to winter 1997-98 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 1994-95 1993-94 Number of deaths All causes 22,900 47,680 40,190 27,290 25,900 Influenza 30 370 250 50 110 Pneumonia 5,800 15,290 11,080 6,260 6,550 Acute respiratory 80 180 150 100 110 infections Other respiratory diseases 3,850 7,640 6,320 3,950 3,830 Other causes 13,150 24,200 22,400 16,930 15,300 Percentage of total deaths All causes 100 100 100 100 100 Influenza 0 1 1 0 0 Pneumonia 25 32 28 23 25 Acute respiratory 0 0 0 0 0 infections Other respiratory diseases 17 16 16 14 15 Other causes 57 51 56 62 59 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

342 c516W;342 c514W; 105432

Session

1999-00

Notes

PQ 105432 Webb/Johnson

Subjects

Death Diseases Weather Influenza Mortality rates

Contains statistics

Yes