HC Deb 11 May 1948 vol 450 c1951
36. Dr. Barnett Stross

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many men and women in Stoke-on-Trent were certified in 1947 to be suffering from silicosis or pneumoconiosis or silico-tuberculosis and how many of these were engaged in the pottery industry; and how many in coal-mining.

Mr. Steele

Seventy-three persons employed in Stoke-on-Trent were certified by the Silicosis Medical Board in 1947 to be suffering from silicosis or pneumoconiosis, or from one of these diseases associated with tuberculosis; of these 33 were engaged in the pottery industry and 4o in coal-mining.

Dr. Stross

Is the Minister aware that in Stoke-on-Trent an experiment is now being conducted for the alleviation and cure of this condition, at least of silicosis, by means of the inhalation of aluminium, and has he any views, or has his Department any views which he could give to the House as to the efficacy of that treatment?

Mr. Steele

That, of course, is another question.