In his Autumn Lecture to the profession, Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, requested help in developing a model to support his investigations into the causes of low life expectancy, particularly in the west coast of Scotland.  The Mortality Research Steering Committee wishes to establish a working party to deliver a cause of death model  which can be used to help this research.  Whilst the initial focus of the working party will be to provide support to Sir Harry Burns, the issues being investigated have the potential for much wider implications, both at hom