§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will confirm that for the purposes of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 a quarrying company, which is still operational and employed an applicant now suffering from pneumoconiosis, is not considered to be a relevant employer if the period during which the applicant was so employed was less than four years.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Act defines "relevant employer", in relation to a person disabled by a disease to which this Act applies, as any person by whom he was employed at any time during the period during which he was developing the disease and against whom he might have or might have had a claim for damages in respect of the disablement, and I regret that accordingly I cannot give the hon. Member the assurance that he seeks.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will confirm that for the purposes of section 2(1)(c) of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979, any action which has been dismissed for want of prosecution or under any enactment relating to the limitation of action, shall be disregarded.
§ Mr. MayhewYes. That is required by section 2(4).