HC Deb 16 March 1939 vol 345 cc575-6
32. Mr. Dunn

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state how many partially-disabled miners and miners suffering with miners nystagmus or other scheduled industrial diseases whose compensation has either been reduced or discontinued are signing on at the Employment Exchanges; how many are receiving benefits, either standard or payments under the Unemployment Assistance Board, to the nearest available date; and why the numbers are increasing?

Mr. E. Brown

As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 2nd March, the desired statistics are not available. In order to obtain them it would be necessary to make a detailed inquiry of all men on the unemployed register who have ever been employed as miners, and I regret that I cannot see my way to institute such an inquiry.

Mr. Dunn

Surely, as this is an important question, which affects local authorities as well, we ought to have the information?

Mr. Brown

I pointed out the difficulty to the hon. Member last week, and said, since he pressed the matter, that I would look again. I have looked again, and I cannot see that I ought to ask every man who has ever been employed as a miner to come up for re-examination, which is what this would involve.

Mr. Dunn

Surely these facts are available at the various centres?

Mr. Brown

No.