§ 36. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that, in consequence of the portable drills that have been introduced in lead mines during the last few years, the vibration of working such drills is such that it creates paralysis of the shoulder muscles; that a number of men suffer from neuritis due to working the hand-drill; that the Non-Ferrous Metal Council agreed that the disease should come under the schedule of industrial diseases, and that compensation should be paid to men suffering from paralysis, beat hand or knee, and silicosis; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no information to the effect suggested in the first two parts of the ques- 1690 tion, and as regards the third part I understand that the Non-Ferrous Mining Interim Industrial Committee, to which the hon. Member no doubt refers, have not come to any agreement as suggested, there being a conflict of opinion between the employers' and workers' representatives. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the cases of paralysis or neuritis attributed to the use of the drills, and also of any cases of silicosis among lead miners, I shall be glad to make inquiry into the matter. Beat hand and miners' beat knee are already scheduled as industrial diseases under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906.