asked the Minister of National Insurance how many applications have been received by the pneumoconiosis panels to the nearest available date since the Industrial Injuries Act was implemented; how many of the men examined were assessed as suffering from loss of faculty; how many were assessed at 5 per cent. or less; and if she can also give the figures for North Staffordshire.

I am having the available information extracted and will send it to my hon. Friend.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the trouble she is taking, may I refer her to the last part of the Question and ask whether she is aware that in some cases men who are assessed at 5 per cent. or less may deem it advisable to leave the industry in which they are exposed to this danger? In such cases does she not feel that they should be allowed hardship allowances?

I will consider that point.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the conclusions of the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit now published by the Medical Re search Council (Memorandum No. 25) which prove that the 5-year limitation in awarding compensation to pneumoconiosis sufferers is unjust, she will now take steps to abolish this injustice.

I do not think that the Report to which the hon. Member refers throws any fresh light on questions connected with the 5-year limit. But I am, in fact, considering those questions in consultation with the T.U.C.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that on page 2 of this Report, which I presume she has seen, it says plainly that this condition is nearly always progressive, independent of continued dust exposure, which I consider to be appropriate medical evidence? Secondly, is she aware that I was assured by the Parliamentary Secretary as long ago as 2nd February that she was discussing this matter? Can she say when these discussions will come to a satisfactory conclusion?

The evidence the hon. Member has just quoted was known to the medical profession many years ago. It may be new to the hon. Member, but it is not new to the medical profession. I would remind the hon. Member, who has put down many Questions on this subject, that the representatives of the miners are very anxious to try to arrive at a solution of this problem. I met a deputation last week, and I propose to meet a deputation on Wednesday. I think the hon. Member will agree that it will be most satisfactory to the sufferers to have their own representatives discuss this matter.

I happen to be one of the representatives of these men, some of whom are in my constituency. As to what the right hon. Lady has said about the medical profession, I have always given her Ministry credit for the fact that until two years ago the doctors were not agreed?

The hon. Member is quite right in that he represents a number of miners in his constituency. If he likes to come to my Department to discuss this matter with me, I shall be glad to see him at any time.

Since these facts have been known to the medical profession for some years, why is it that the Medical Research Council has only just published them?

Facts are known about all sorts of things, but they are not necessarily reported in that form.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will amend the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act so as to ensure that no workman misses a day's compensation owing to the fact that he is on a shift which starts before and ends after midnight.

The effect on a claim to injury benefit by a night shift worker of the rules for determining what constitutes a day of incapacity varies with the circumstances of the case. I hope to find a solution of the difficulties, but legislation would be needed to alter the rules.

Has not the Minister power to remedy this obvious defect?

I am quite prepared to amend the regulations, but the statutory authorities must administer them as they stand at present.

Would it not be a simple matter to bring in a new regulation?

I will consider that.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what concession will be made to those pensioners who are now in receipt of payments from the National Assistance Board, but who will in due course have the amount of the increased pension deducted from their grant.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give an assurance that where an old person, including the blind, receives an increase of retirement pension under the Budget proposals, this increase will not be adversely affected by a decreased supplementary allowance from the National Assistance Board.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made about National Assistance on the Second Reading of the National Insurance Bill on 26th April.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that that statement did not take us very far? In view of the great anxiety felt by pensioners in this category, will she not give an assurance that she will try to make a statement at the earliest possible moment, so that they shall know where they stand?

If the hon. Member reads my speech, he will agree that I have said all that I can say in view of the fact that I am awaiting a proposal from the National Assistance Board?

Is it not true that the right hon. Lady has considerable influence, including, of course, influence with the Treasury—the influence of the purse—over the actions of the National Assistance Board? Will she make sure that no old or blind people will fail to get a rise owing to the taking away with the one hand of the benefit which has been given with the other?

I thought I made it clear on Second Reading that that would be the case.

Does my right hon. Friend expect to get an early report from the National Assistance Board on this question?

I hope so.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many copies of the poster entitled, "Moving Home," have been ordered by her Department; how many have been distributed; and what is the cost to public funds.

The number is 150,000, all of which have been distributed. The cost was £533.

While appreciating the necessity for a notice of this sort, may I ask the right hon. Lady if she is aware that this is a highly-elaborate printed poster, and that it is a little tactless at present to put out posters which tend to suggest that everyone has a home to go to?

I do not agree. I think that it is a most appropriate poster, and my only objection to it is that it is coloured blue.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she is aware that unemployment insurance benefit has been refused to West Ham Borough Council workers who are rendered redundant and given their holiday pay, and that in consequence they are forced to have their holiday in the early part of the year instead of the normal summer period; and whether she will take the necessary action to remedy this.

The only case of this kind I can trace is that of a man who did not proceed with his claim when asked for further information. If my hon. Friend cares to send me details of any cases I will look into them. But the rules governing the treatment of holiday pay are of long-standing.