§ 51. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if the inquiry being made into questions that have arisen from silicosis, and being carried out by the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee, includes the pottery industry and any other industries?
§ The Paymaster-General (Earl Winterton)Various investigations are being made under the direction of the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee of the Medical Research Council in addition to the special inquiry into chronic pulmonary disease among coal miners. These include laboratory researches into the problem of silicosis generally. Inquiries have also been made regarding silicosis in particular occupations, including pottery work, stone cutting, and lead mining, and reports have been published.
§ 52. Mr. Smithasked the Paymaster-General as representing the Lord President of the Council whether he can state the result of the inquiry on the problems of diagnosis and interpretation in reference to silicosis made by the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee of the committee of the Medical Research Council; and whether consideration has been given to the urgency of the report, in view of the decision of the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines, pages 469 and 470 of the Commission's report?
§ Earl WintertonThis investigation is in active progress, and the results of it are not yet available. The urgency of the matter is fully realised, and the work is being pressed forward with all possible speed, but it is not yet possible to say when it will be completed.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the coalowners are very disturbed about the disease of silicosis and are making some very close behind-the-scenes inquiry about it?