16. Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the area of the Consett and Stanley Employment Committee there are at present 146 men who have suffered, 520 or are suffering, from miners' nystagmus out of a total adult insurable mining population of 20,700, and that 75 of these are at present desirous of obtaining colliery work; and whether, with a view to meeting this requirement, he will consult with all colliery owners in the area with a view to arranging for Employment Exchanges to bring to their special notice particulars of any of their ex-employés seeking colliery work who had contracted nystagmus while in their employ immediately they are certified fit for ordinary or light employment?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware of the position to which the hon. Member refers, which has been the subject of careful inquiry by the Consett and Stanley Employment Committee. I understand that the committee has invited a panel, representative of colliery workpeople and employers in the area, to examine a suggestion on the lines of that in the second part of the question, and I shall be pleased to consider the matter further when I have received the committee's recommendations.