asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the population in the age groups 0–17 years, 18–39 years, 40–54 years, 55–64 years, 65–74 years, 75–84 years, and 85 years and over are confined in hospital each year from conditions other than those cause by war or any act of war or civil strife, any mental disease, illness or disorder, pregnancy, miscarriage or childbirth, abortion, intoxication or the influence of any narcotic unless administered on the advice of a doctor; and what was the average length of stay for each group.
Information in the form requested is not available. The following table gives, by age groups, the number of hospital spells per 10,000 population and the average length of stay in non-psychiatric hospitals in 1969, excluding maternity and psychiatry:
| Age group | Spells per per 10,000 population | Average length of stay (days) |
| 0–14 | 734 | 8·1 |
| 15–44 | 602 | 8·9 |
| 45–64 | 861 | 16·2 |
| 65–74 | 1,269 | 25·2 |
| 75 and over | 1,854 | 45·3 |