asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths were reported to Her Majesty's coroners in England and Wales as being suspected to be linked with pneumoconiosis in each year since 1948; in how many cases (a) inquests, and (b) post mortem examinations were held; and in how many cases the cause of death was certified as pneumoconiosis or a related industrial disease.
I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available and information about the number of inquests and post mortem examinations in which the cause of death was given as pneumoconiosis or a related industrial disease could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of time and expense; but I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services that the number of deaths in England and Wales assigned to pneumoconiosis and related diseases in each year since 1948 is as follows:
| 1948 | 438 |
| 1949 | 542 |
| 1950 | 585 |
| 1951 | 608 |
| 1952 | 566 |
| 1953 | 590 |
| 1954 | 665 |
| 1955 | 744 |
| 1956 | 698 |
| 1957 | 786 |
| 1958 | 753 |
| 1959 | 678 |
| 1960 | 681 |
| 1961 | 739 |
| 1962 | 711 |
| 1963 | 673 |
| 1964 | 676 |
| 1965 | 619 |
| 1966 | 625 |
| 1967 | 574 |
| 1968 | 566 |
| 1969 | 582 |
| 1970 | 580 |
| 1971 | 496 |
| 1972 | 493 |
| 1973 | 479 |
| 1974 | 402 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the relationship between Her Majesty's coroners in England and Wales and the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel; and if he will make a statement.
The coroner, who is an independent judicial officer for whose acts my right mon. Friend has no responsibility, and the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel each have their own functions to perform.