asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers, examined in the Employment Medical Advisory Service Survey of asbestos workers, have been diagnosed as having very early diagnosible asbestosis; and if all such workers have been told of their condition.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th November 1977; Vol. 939, c. 832], gave the following information:As I said in my reply to my hon. Frisend on 21st November—[Vol. 939, c.
year since 1945 ( a) the annual percentage increase or decrease in the total number unemployed in the United Kingdom, and ( b) the annual percentage increase or decrease in the total number unemployed in Great Britain.
The present series of unemployment statistics started in July 1948. The following table gives averages of the monthly counts 1949 and percentage changes between the averages for successive years:
592–3.]—some 24,000 persons have so far been examined, and the latest available figures show that 949 cases of early diagnosible asbestosis have been identified. For the purposes of the survey early diagnosible asbestosis is equated with Category I of the ILO U/C Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis (1971). Because of the work history of the men concerned it is likely that the majority have symptoms of early asbestosis but this cannot be confirmed until the workers have been clinically examined. When any abnormality is detected in the examination of the chest radiograph, standing instructions require employment medical advisers to refer workers to their general practitioners.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a definition of all categories described in the Employment Medical Advisory Service survey of asbestos workers, as specified in Guidance Notes MS6; and how many workers have been diagnosed as having asbestosis in each category and sub-category used in the survey; and how many in each category and subcategory have been informed of their condition.
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th November 1977;
| ILO Category | … | 0/- and 0/0 | 0/1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| No | … | 12776 | 627 | 949 | 91 | 3 | ||||||
| Sub-category | … | 0/- 0/0 | 0/1 | 1/0 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 2/1 | 2/2 | 2/3 | 3/2 | 3/3 | 3/4 |
| No. (provisional) | … | 0 12776 | 627 | 344 | 473 | 132 | 26 | 54 | 11 | l | 2 | 0 |
Vol. 939, c. 832], gave the following information:
In view of the complexity of the survey categories, I am placing in the Library copies of the ILO publication which describes the international classification of pneumoconioses radiographs, and of the Health and Safety Executive Guidance Note MS6. I am also sending copies to my hon. Friend.
The following tables show the latest analysis of X-ray readings in each category and sub-category:
because similar effects may arise as a result of other conditions. All cases of abnormality are, however, immediately referred to general practitioners.