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Pneumoconiosis

Volume 905: debated on Monday 16 February 1976

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of boardings at which pneumoconiosis and relevant industrial diseases were first diagnosed classified by industry for each year since 1958, indicating how many cases were first examination, reexamination and the total number of cases diagnosed in each industry per year.

The information available is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the annual "Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics". I would refer the hon. Member to Table 3, page 6 of the latest "Digest" (for 1973) and the equivalent tables in earlier volumes which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of first diagnosed boardings by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all unoccupied Government factory premises in Wales indicating when production last took place in them.

The Welsh Office is at present seeking occupants for the following premises:in the slate and stone quarrying industries in each year since 1948 in each county and region in the United Kingdom and for the United Kingdom as a whole; and if he will express all figures per 1,000 wage earners in these industries;(2) what was the number of payments of disablement benefits for pneumoconiosis to men under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme per 1,000 population for (

a) Great Britain, ( b) Scotland, ( c) Wales, and ( d) each English region in each year since 1948;

(3) what is the average length of time taken by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel to examine thoracic organs in connection with application for industrial death benefit by dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of disablement benefits for pneumoconiosis under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme cur-

NATIONAL INSURANCE (INDUSTRIAL INJURIES) ACT DISABLEMENT PENSIONS IN RESPECT OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS
Assessments current at 30th September 1974 analysed by attributable industry and percentage assessment Hundreds
Minimum list heading*All assessmentsPercentage assessment
102030405060708090100
All industries36115392482614863112
Mining and quarrying101–104, 10931613882412210643110
Coal mining1013111378140211064318
Other102–104, 10951111
Metal manufacture311–313114321111
321–323
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.461–464, 469177321111
Bricks, fireclay and refractory goods46121
Pottery, glass462,466136211111
Other industriesRemainder1744322111

Source: 10 per cent. sample.

* According to Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1968).

PNEUMOCONIOSIS, BYSSINOSIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES BENEFIT SCHEME 1966 ALLOWANCES IN FORCE AT 30TH SEPTEMBER 1974, ANALYSED BY INDUSTRY GREAT BRITAIN

Number

Total Incapacity

Partial Incapacity

All industries4872,392
Refractories02
Sandstone07
Pottery29108
Asbestos764
Coal3621,995
Coal-trimming00
Tin mining1619
Haematite mining731
Slate mining918
Slate splitting823
Graphite02
Building511
Sandblasting, etc.16
Tunnellers59
Metal grinding33
Steel dressers215
Abrasive soap powders511
Barytes mining10
Quarrying (other than sandstone or slate)58
Furnace dismantling02
Carbon electrode manufacture00
Boiler scaling12
Foundry workers1235
Fireclay mining03
Other clay mining00
Chert mining00
Lead mining35
Oil shale mining00
Stratified ironstone mining00
Other mining14
Other scheduled occupations56
Unscheduled occupations03

asked the Secretary of state for social for social services what was the

rently in payment by percentage assessment, by disablement and by industry.

The tables below show the figures as at 30th September 1974.the number of boardings in which pneumoconiosis and related industrial diseases were first diagnosed in each year since 1948 classified by industry and by the percentage disablement assessment made.

The information available is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the annual "Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics". I would refer the hon. Member to Table 4, page 7, of the latest "Digest" (for 1973) and the equivalent tables in earlier volumes, which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many awards of industrial death benefit to widows and other dependants were made in each year since 1948 under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts where pneumoconiosis or related diseases were certified as a cause of death in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) the English regions.

The information requested is not available, but the table below shows the number of cases in Great Britain from 1956 onwards in which industrial death benefit was claimed and the pneumoconiosis medical panel was of the opinion that death was dut to, or materially accelerated by, pneumoconiosis.

1956438
1957607
1958647
1959655
1960717
1961827
1962807
1963874
Age
24253035404550556065
ortotototototototoor
less2934394449545964moreTotal
Coal mining10402101,0643,1644,1926,57718,17933,436
Other mining and quarrying312085125426687
Other industries20701614075247682,1234,073

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of boardings at which pneumoconiosis was first diagnosed in each year since 1948 classified by industry and age of claimant.

The information available is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the annual "Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics". I would refer

1964770
1965803
1966671
1967606
1968645
1969674
1970732
1971636
1972696
1973614
1974593

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now revise the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Benefits) Regulations to enable industrial death benefit to be paid to the widow and dependants of all persons who received disablement benefits for pneumoconiosis under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme during life; and if she will make a statement.

No. This would mean paying the preferential benefit of the industrial injuries scheme in cases where death was clearly unconnected with work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of disablement benefits for pneumoconiosis under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme currently in payment by age of recipient and by industry.

The figures as at 30th September 1974 are shown in the table below.the hon. Member to Table 2, pages 4 and 5 of the latest "Digest" (for 1973) and the equivalent tables in earlier volumes, which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State fro Social Services what periodic X-ray investigations are carries out to detect pneumoconiosis and related industrial diseases in industries other that coal mining; and if she will make a statement.

Periodical medical examinations are carried out as required under Regulations 2(B) and 51 and Part II of Schedule I to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1975 and include, when necessary, X-ray investigations. Discussions about these arrangements are taking place between my Department and the Employment Medical Advisory Service of the Health and Safety Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many examinations of thoracic organs were undertaken each year since 1948 by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel.

The available information is shown in the table below:

YearNumber
19563,435
19573,380
19583,935
19593,779
19603,980
19614,150
19624,189
19634,450
19644,291
19654,408
19664,522
19674,407
19684,640
19694,863
19705,016
19714,677
19724,868
19734,786
19744,681

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of scrutinies and boardings for pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and related industrial diseases which took place in industries other than coal mining in each year since 1948; if she will give the number of negative scrutinies, the number and percentage referred for boarding, the total number of boardings, and the number at which the disease was not diagnosed, and at which the disease was first diagnosed; and if she will provide the information for slate mining and quarrying and other mining and quarrying and haematite mining and other industries in asbestos working, steel dressing,non-ferrous foundry workers, steel foundry workers, iron foundry workers, refractories and pottery manufacture, and any other processes.

The information available is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the annual" Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics". I would refer the hon. Member to Table 2, page 4 and 5 of the latest "Digest" (for 1973) and the equivalent tables in earlier volumes which are available in the Library of the House.