§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Home Secretary (1) whether he will endeavour to make arrangements with the Registrar-General for special Returns of deaths from phthisis or other forms of lung disease from ganister mines, tin mines, cutlery works, granite quarries, and other occupations where the death-rate appears excessive; (2) in view of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines and Quarries, what further steps, if any, he proposes to take to prevent inhalation of dust during drilling and blasting in metalliferous mines (and whether he will lay any draft regulations to that effect upon the Table of the House); in quarries in breaking stones by machinery, or dressing and preparing stone the dust of which is dangerous; and in other factories or workshops in which processes are carried on or in which dangerous dust from stone is generated; (3) if he will state what steps he proposes to take with reference to tin mines and ganister mines with a view to carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines and Quarries, to the effect that the State Advisory Council on Tuberculosis should be asked to make further investigations into the effect of the occupations on the health of the miners?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe recommendations of the Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines and Quarries on the subject of phthisis are under consideration with a1978W view to steps being taken to give effect to them, so far as can be adequately done under existing powers, but I regret I cannot at present make any detailed statement. I may say, however, that I have already been in communication with the chairman of the advisory council in regard to the question of further investigations, and I have also arranged for Dr. Haldane to undertake an inquiry supplementary to the investigations made by the Royal Commission in regard to the physiological effect of various stone dusts on the lungs.