Pneumoconiosis (Hansard, 20 February 1956)

§ 1 and 2. Mr. Ellis Smith
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what consideration he has given to the figures revealed in the Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics, 1954; and what action is to be taken;
2 (2) if his attention has been directed to the figures for North Staffordshire contained in the Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics, 1954; and what action is to be taken.

§ 3 and 4. Mr. Swingler
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) what research is at present being undertaken to establish the causes of the high incidence of pneumoconiosis amongst miners in North Staffordshire;
(2) if he will take special action to investigate the causes of, and provide treatment for, pneumoconiosis in North Staffordshire, in view of the figures published in the Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics, 1954.

§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Aubrey Jones)
As I told the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) on 6th February, the increase in the number of cases of pneumoconiosis now being diagnosed among coal miners would appear to reflect an increased awareness of the disease rather than an increased incidence. Since the fundamental cause of the disease is dust, strenuous efforts are being made to reduce the amount of dust in coal mines. Furthermore, to determine what quantities and types of dust are most injurious, a detailed examination is being made into the conditions of work and the health of the workmen in a number of representative pits, including North Staffordshire.
I am writing to the hon. Members in greater detail on this difficult subject.

§ Mr. Ellis Smith
Will the Minister bear in mind that we are now armed with a 3 letter from the North Staffordshire area of the National Union of Mineworkers urging that the matter should be treated as one of extreme urgency? The letter states that the area suffers a higher incidence of pneumoconiosis than any other in the country, and that the number of men there certified as suffering from the disease is higher than anywhere else. In view of that, will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labour with a view to setting up as soon as possible a treatment, welfare, rehabilitation and research centre to cater for the growing need?

§ Mr. Jones
I am not satisfied that we know the full reason why the incidence of the disease would appear to be higher in North Staffordshire than elsewhere. I am looking into this as a matter of urgency, and as part of that I will certainly consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

§ Mr. Swingler
As the figures for North Staffordshire are particularly grave and disturbing, cannot some immediate action be taken to institute research? Would it not be possible for the Minister to agree at once to establish a research centre such as exists in some other coal fields so that immediate investigations can be made into the cause of the tremendous rise in the figures?

§ Mr. Jones
So far as my knowledge of the subject goes, the research is general to the whole country. Whether there is a case for establishing specific research in any one area is another matter, but I will certainly have that considered.

Mrs. Slater
As the National Union of Mineworkers is so very concerned as a result of the latest figures published, and as workers in the pottery industry in North Staffordshire also suffer from the disease, does not the Minister agree that there is a double argument for a research survey to be undertaken? Cannot he give us a more definite answer than he has done about the possibility of research being undertaken in North Staffordshire?

§ Mr. Jones
I have, of course, no jurisdiction over the pottery industry, but I assure the hon. Lady that I am looking with the utmost urgency into the reasons why the disease would appear to be graver in North Staffordshire than elsewhere.