§ 30. Mr. WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the evidence given by Dr. Shufflebotham in his Milroy lectures before the Royal College of Physicians, that miners' nystagmus is principally due to the bad illumination of mines; whether the Home Office concur in his views on this subject; and whether any steps can be taken to remedy the evil in connection with the National Insurance Act or otherwise?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I have seen a report of the lectures referred to. The researches made in recent 2130 years appear to point strongly to the conclusion that working in insufficient light is the main, if not the sole, cause of miners' nystagmus, and this point was kept in view when it was decided to impose photometric tests for all types of safety lamp approved under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. I am advised that as a result of these tests and of the increasing use of electric lamps the illumination below ground is improving, and I trust that as this improvement continues, it will have a substantial effect in reducing the number of cases of nystagmus. Miners nystagmus is one of the diseases scheduled under the Workmen's Compensation Act.