§ 10. Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Social Security in how many cases in the last 10 years, when the death certificate has certified that death is partly attributable to pneumoconiosis, no industrial diseases benefit has been paid to the widow.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Security (Mr. Harold Davies)I regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. WoofWill not my hon. Friend agree that there is need for a further investigation in the light of rejection of death claims when assessments have been granted during life, and will he agree also to have an investigation to find out the reasons for rejecting pneumoconiosis as a contributory cause when the patient has died of emphysema, heart disease or broncho-pneumonia?
§ Mr. DaviesI agree in the main with the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, but I must point out that any collection of statistics about those who have been turned down would be meaningless because we do not keep account of those who may have had slight pneumoconiosis but in respect of whom no claim is made for dependants or widows.
§ Mr. DeanWill the hon. Gentleman realise that, as his hon. Friend has pointed out, it is exceedingly difficult to diagnose this disease and the borderline 9 between it and emphysema or bronchitis is very narrow? We feel, as the hon. Gentleman feels, that there are many cases where people are not getting a fair deal. Will the hon. Gentleman look into it the position again?
§ Mr. DaviesCertainly, and I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for putting that point of view. My Answer to the next Question may help a little to make clear that we are doing our utmost in this direction.
§ 11. Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Social Security what medical research is now going on in her Department to arrive at a more accurate diagnosis in the case of pneumoconiosis.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesAccurate diagnosis of pneumoconiosis depends on a combination of skill, knowledge and experience in the interpretation of X-rays and their correlation with clinical findings and industrial history. We encourage continuous research by members of pneumoconiosis medical panels, who have the closest contact with the pneumoconiosis research unit. universities and overseas bodies concerned with authoritative research into this disease.
§ Mr. WoofI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but will he agree that variations in the past suggest that standards of diagnosis have fluctuated and give rise to the suspicion that the fall in the number of cases is not a true reflection of the incidence of this terrible disease?
§ Mr. DaviesSpecial inquiries have been made into the correlation of the findings of the pneumoconiosis medical panels in life and in death, and these findings show that the diagnoses of pneumoconiosis by the panels in life agree with post-mortem findings in 95 per cent. of cases. This is higher than the general rule. Nevertheless, research by our medical officers is continuously carried on, and only last September one of our principal medical officers visited the Vienna Industrial Medicine Conference to look into these problems. As the House knows, we are at this moment continuing research with the pneumoconiosis unit at the Glamorgan hospital and with universities. We are aware of this problem and of its importance to industry.
§ Mr. DeanDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that there is still a strong feeling that where there is a doubt, in too many cases it tends to be decided against the person concerned rather than in his favour?
§ Mr. DaviesI should not like to give a categorical answer to that question. We are aware of the feelings in industry about these findings, and we are doing out utmost to find an answer to this very difficult problem. The hon. Gentleman earlier today admitted that it was a difficult problem.