asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when he expects to receive the final report of the interdepartmental working committee investigating the feasibility of a compensation scheme for those, including potters, who suffer from pneumoconiosis;(2) if he will seek the early introduction of a scheme for all workers suffering from pneumoconiosis and undertake to provide similar financial support to that given to the coal miners' scheme.

The working group which has been set up to examine this question is aware of the importance which the Government attach to the matter but is not yet ready to report to Ministers. The Government's further consideration must await the group's report.