Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 7 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 February 2003. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 February 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers there are in England; how many of them are receiving treatment from the NHS; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers there are in England; how many of them are receiving treatment from the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [97504] Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health does not routinely collect statistics on the prevalence of individual conditions. The report of the independent chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgicencephalomyelitis working group, published in January 2002, estimated a population prevalence of around 0.2 to 0.4 per cent, in adults and around 0.07 per cent.in children.

Secondary information