asked the Home Secretary whether any investigation has yet been made as to the extent to which silicosis has been contracted by workers in the foundry trade; and with what result?

Certain processes in steel foundries are known to give rise to silicosis, and workers employed in these processes are covered by the compensation scheme for this disease. I have recently received representations that the scheme should be extended to cover other processes, e.g. work done on the foundry floor, which has not hitherto been thought to expose the workers to risk of the disease. Further inquiries are being made, but the results are not yet available.