§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, following the announcement in the Queen's Speech that the Government are examining schemes to provide compensation for those such as slate quarrymen who have suffered respiratory diseases from dust in their employment but who are unable to obtain such compensation through the courts, any proposals which may be brought forward will include those employed in agriculture who suffer from the disease known as farmer's lung.
§ Mr. Harold Walker:As has been stated in the House on previous occasions, a working group is examining the question of compensation for workers suffering from dust related respiratory diseases as a result of their employment. The group is not limiting that examination merely to the problem of slate quarrymen. The group is not yet ready to report to Ministers and I cannot, therefore, anticipate what recommendations it might make.