By STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

MEN in the more affluent suburbs of Glasgow can expect to live almost 10 years longer than those in the poorer parts of the city, say new figures.

The latest report shows life expectancy in Glasgow has improved but for men is still the lowest in Scotland.

The five lowest areas for men in Scotland are in Glasgow and four of the bottom five for women are also in the city.

In Maryhill and Springburn male life expectancy is 72.1 years compared to 81.5 in Eastwood, which includes Newton Mearns and Clarkston. The areas are just nine miles apart but with hugely different expectations of life and healthy life expectancy.

The bottom five also include Provan, Shettleston, Pollok and Southside.

For women the lowest in 77.4 in Pollok compared to 84.5 in Eastwood.

The five lowest also includes Provan, Maryhill and Springburn and Shettleston.

Glasgow is the lowest of Scotland’s 32 council areas with average life expectancy of 73.4 for men and women. The highest is Orkney at 80.3 while the highest in mainland Scotland are Glasgow’s neighbours in East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire both at 80.1.

In Glasgow, one in 10.3 men can expect to live until the age of 90, again, the lowest in the country. Meanwhile in East Dunbartonshire the rate is one in every 4.1.

Glasgow’s overall life expectancy has improved by three years in the last decade but as other areas have also increased the gap has not closed significantly.

The report found the difference between the most deprived and least deprives communities was more than 10 years for men and 7.8 for women.

There was also a significant divide between large urban areas and the more remote rural communities.

Tim Ellis, Registrar General for Scotland, said: “ The statistics published today show that every council area of Scotland has seen an increase in life expectancy over the past decade, but there is still a lot of variation between areas.

“The report shows that deprivation has a strong effect on life expectancy with people who live in more deprived areas expected to live shorter lives than those in less deprived areas.”