§ 42. Mr. Leatherasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what progress is being made towards introducing an annual X-ray scheme for miners.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThe National Joint Pneumoconiosis Committee recently decided that an experimental scheme for the periodic X-ray examination of miners is required, before any general plan can be drawn up. The personnel, equipment and organisation of the experimental scheme are now under consideration. In the meantime, all miners who have been diagnosed as having pneumoconiosis, including many thousands who continue their work at the mines, are re-examined from time to time. Fifty thousand other miners have been examined by miniature radiography under the National Health Service.
§ Mr. LeatherWill the Minister bear in mind that such schemes have been tried out in other countries and are known to be practicable? Ought we not to capitalise on the other splendid work the pneumoconiosis research unit has carried out and give it top priority?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerYes, Sir, we will certainly give it top priority as soon as it can be done without risk of failure or setback.
Dr. HillWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Minister of Health with a view to diverting some of the mass radiography facilities to this work which is even more important than that upon which it is normally engaged?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe Ministry of Health are represented on the Committee which deals with this matter. As the hon. Member for Luton (Dr. Hill) will know, there is some division of opinion among the experts on whether mass miniature radiography does detect pneumoconiosis in its early stages.