§ 61. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give any information regarding the claim made by the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy that recent researches made by the institute have resulted in discoveries which a re capable of reducing the incidence of silicosis in mines by 90 per cent.; and, if the claim is substantially verified, whether he proposes to take steps to enforce the use of this discovery in the mines of the country?
§ Commander SouthbyIn the absence of my hon. and gallant Friend, and as the reply to this question is a somewhat lengthy one, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. GriffithsWill the hon. and gallant Member convey to the Secretary for Mines that statements of this kind which create hopes and expectations among men suffering from this disease should be conveyed to the Government first?
§ Commander SouthbyI would ask the hon. Member to await the report.
§ Following is the reply:
§ I understand that in a speech last Thursday the President of the Institute pointed out that among certain categories of miners on the Rand the incidence of silicosis in 1935 was 90 per cent, less than in the period 1920–23. This improvement is attributable to preventive measures, e.g., as regards drilling and shot-firing, which are already applied in this country where risk of silicosis is to be apprehended with the exception that there is no system of initial or periodical medical examinations. The President also made mention of quite recent developments in research into methods of collecting and examining samples of dust from the air. But this was not suggested to be a case of cause and effect, and the researches referred to have not yet reached the stage of providing further preventive measures of practical application.