asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help is available to people suffering from anorexia nervosa from the social services and from the health service; and if he will make a statement.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice has been given to general practitioners concerning early diagnosis of anorexia nervosa; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has not given any advice to general practitioners on early diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. This is a matter of clinical judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the prevalence of anorexia nervosa in the United Kingdom.

Anorexia nervosa is most common in schoolgirls and young women. The prevalence is of the order of one per hundred of 16–18 year old girls and studies have indicated that it may be more common in social classes I and II than in the general population.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have died as a result of anorexia nervosa in each of the last five years.

The number of deaths recorded in England and Wales were as follows: