§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the study of pneumoconiosis by his Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and the possibility of a new statutory definition of this industrial disease is likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe advisory council has just completed its review of pneumoconiosis and of certain questions relating to byssinosis and its report will be published in due course.
285WThe council's conclusions and recommendations will need to be carefully examined before a statement is made.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the pneumoconiosis sub-committee of his Industrial Injuries Advisory Council is studying a new statutory definition of emphysema to make it a separately scheduled industrial disease; whether the definition of pneumoconiosis will be widened to include emphysema and chronic bronchitis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe question of prescribing emphysema as an industrial disease has not been referred to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. As regards the definition of pneumoconiosis, I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to await publication of the advisory council's report on the disease.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the continental countries which have legislated for emphysema as an industrial disease; and whether legislation on this subject will be introduced in the United Kingdom under EEC regulations, in order to harmonise the position.
§ Sir K. JosephAccording to available published information no European country lists emphysema as an industrial disease. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask his Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to conduct an investigation into the effects of secondary emphysema on pneumoconiotics, especially among mine-workers, with a view to ascertaining the increased likelihood of death from the combination of pneumoconiosis and emphysema and the classification of emphysema as an industrial disease.
§ Mr. DeanNo. The major review of pneumoconiosis, which the advisory council has just completed, included a study of the extent to which provision should be made for other respiratory conditions, including emphysema, found in the presence of pneumoconiosis.
286W