§ 57. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what research is at present being conducted on dust conditions in the coal-mining industry; in what form up-to-date guidance on the results is given to pneumoconiosis panels; and to what extent the panels take into account the incidence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema when they determine whether the health of a miner who is suffering from pneumoconiosis will be endangered by continued work in dust conditions.
§ Lieut.-Commander MaydonI understand that a considerable amount of research into dust conditions in coal mining is being carried on at present, but this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power. Pneumoconiosis medical panels, from whom the membership of the independent pneumoconiosis medical boards is drawn, are informed of the results of any research which has a bearing on their duties of diagnosing pneumoconiosis and assessing the disability resulting from it. The terms of the letter of advice sent to a man diagnosed as having pneumoconiosis will depend on the facts of the individual case, and particularly on the conditions of work which the medical board considers suitable in the light of the condition of the man's chest at the time he is examined.