Emphysema and Bronchitis

HC Deb 21 May 1975 vol 892 cc450-2W

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what figures were available for the proportions of sufferers from emphysema and bronchitis who have been employed in the coal mining industry as compared with the proportion of the total population which is employed in mining; if she will give further consideration to the treatment of emphysema and bronchitis as industrial diseases; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. O'Malley

The information available relates to 1971–72 when approximately 3 per cent. of the total male working population were employed in mining and quarrying. It is estimated that of male claimants for sickness benefit who had a period of incapacity because of bronchitis or emphysema starting in that period 6 per cent. were employed in mining or quarrying. I am always willing to consider new evidence about the causes or incidence of bronchitis and emphysema,

SOUTH WEST THAMES REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
		Total capital expenditure £000	Capital expenditure on services for the	Proportion of total capital expenditure on services for the
		mentally ill £000	mentally handicapped £000	mentally ill Percentage	mentally handicapped Percentage
1964–65	…	3,684	306	206	8.3	5.6
1965–66	…	3,899	451	372	11.6	9.5
1966–67	…	4,540	246	263	5.4	5.8
1967–68	…	4,830	116	140	2.4	2.9
1968–69	…	5,446	164	93	3.0	1.7
1969–70	…	5,723	161	218	2.8	3.8
1970–71	…	6,849	319	245	4.7	3.6
1971–72	…	7,086	625	390	8.8	5.5
1972–73	…	9,425	926	529	9.8	5.6
1973–74	…	10,711	1,548	925	14.5	8.6
1974–75*	…	17,600	871	623	5.0	3.5
1975–76*	…	19,800	518*	1,115*	2.6*	5.6*
* Estimated.
Notes:
1. Figures for 1964–65 to 1973–74 relate to the former regional hospital board and board of governors.
2. For 1974–75 total expenditure includes community services (e.g. health centres) formerly administered by local health authorities and purchases of land and property: these items are not included in total expenditure for 1964–65 to 1973–74.
Allocations of capital for 1976–77 onwards have not yet been made.

Expenditure on family practitioner services and local health authority services has not been analysed so the total revenue expenditure in areas now covered by regional health authorities is not available. Also it is not possible to segregate fully expenditure on services for the mentally

but in the present state of medical knowledge the statutory requirements for prescription cannot be satisfied as it is not possible to differentiate those cases which might be due to occupation from those due to other causes.