§ 5. Dr. Barnett Strossasked the Minister of National Insurance the percentage of cases of silicosis in the pottery industry accompanied by tuberculosis in the years 1928 to 1944; and what is the average expectation of life where this complication arises, as compared with the expectation of life when silicosis alone is diagnosed.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement based on such information as is available on the subject.
§ Dr. StrossIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in consequence of this complication tuberculosis is nearly always fatal in these cases; and that being so, will he use all his energies to see that in this industry, as in others where there is silicosis, entrants should be first examined radio logically before they are accepted?
§ Mr. GriffithsAs my hon. Friend knows, I happen to have had some experience in this matter. I am indeed anxious that every precaution should be taken both before entering the industry and afterwards. In the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Bill I have taken certain powers to deal with this matter.
§ Following is the statement:
§ I regret that complete figures are not available. In the 12 years 1933 to 1944, 19 per cent. of the workers in the pottery industry who were certified by the Silicosis Medical Board were found to be suffering from silicosis accompanied by tuberculosis. In cases of silicosis, tuberculosis may become manifest after certification. The experience of the Medical Board in North Staffordshire is that the average period between certification and death, in cases where the death is found to have been caused by silicosis accompanied by tuberculosis is just over two years; in cases of silicosis alone, it is five to seven years. In the individual case, the period depends, of course, very largely on the workman's age and the degree of his disablement at the time of certification.