HC Deb 19 November 1946 vol 430 cc659-60
9. Mr. David Griffiths

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of cases certified by the certifying surgeons of coal-miners suffering from dermatitis from January, 1938, yearly, up to and includ- ing December, 1945; and is he aware of the increases in certified dermatitis.

Mr. J. Griffiths

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. D. Griffiths

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to set up a committee of investigation into this matter to deal with the grave injustice caused by the fact that, between the day of certification of a miner suffering from this disease and the day of attending the court of referees, very often all symptoms have disappeared?

Mr. J. Griffiths

I am afraid I should have to have notice of that question. I regret that these figures show a steady increase; there are a large number of cases, but we are doing our very best to shorten the time between the original claim and reference to the medical referee.

Following is the reply:

Separate figures for coalminers are not available, but the number of cases among miners generally, the majority of whom will have been coalminers, were as follows:

1938 … … … 254
1939 … … … 305
1940 … … … 402
1941 … … … 573
1942 … … … 884
1943 … … … 1,207
1944 … … … 1,506
1945 … … … 1,867