Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 30 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 April 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 April 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have died as a result of abuse of (a) butane gas refills and (b) other volatile substances in each year since 1997. - Inc tables.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died as a result of abuse of (a) butane gas refills and (b) other volatile substances in each year since 1997. [165759] Miss Melanie Johnson: :Statistics, collected by St. George's Hospital Medical School on behalf of the Department, on volatile substance abuse deaths from cigarette (butane) lighter refills, and total volatile substance abuse deaths are shown in the tables. Deaths associated with cigarette lighter refills _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Number 1997 47 1998 43 1999 43 2000 34 2001 42 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Deaths by volatile substance abuse _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Number 1997 78 1998 80 1999 75 2000 65 2001 63 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: St. George's Hospital Medical School: 16th Annual Report on Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substance 1971-2001--Key findings for 2001.

Secondary information