§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the latest figures available for the proportion of former mineworkers and quarrymen suffering from emphysema and bronchitis as compared with the proportion of the population as a whole suffering from these diseases; what criteria his Department uses for identifying industrial diseases; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what plans he has for changing the criteria used for identifying industrial diseases with the aim of enabling diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis to be so prescribed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that information is not available in the form requested. However, it has been shown that the incidence of emphysema and bronchitis in coal miners is rather more than twice that in workers of a similar social background working in non-dusty occupations.
As regards the criteria for prescribing industrial diseases under the industrial injuries scheme and the prospects of prescribing emphysema and bronchitis, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Evans) on 17th July. I have no plans for changing the criteria.