§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department received the report published in 1993 by the Health and Safety Executive "Toxicity Review 28, Cancer Epidemiology in Coal Tar Pitch Volatile Associated Industries"; when it was published; 629W and what action was taken in response to the conclusion about the risk of death from cancers among workers in those industries. [27782]
§ Mr. RichardsThis review was undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive. I understand that it was completed in October 1992 and the report published in 1993. The Welsh Office was not involved in the review and any action in response to the report's conclusions is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department received the report, "Mortality Study of Workers at a Patent Fuel Plant" published by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in 1987 relating to the furnacite plant in Cwnboi; when it was published; what action was taken in response to the report; and if he will make a statement on the incidence of cancer among former employees in the coking industry. [27784]
§ Mr. RichardsThis report was not commissioned by the Welsh Office, and the Department was not sent a copy at the time of its publication.
Table 1: Claimants of pension age in receipt of Supplementary Benefit/Income Support 1970–1995 Thousands Claimants by DSS Administrative Regions 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Northern n/a n/a 149 142 132 111 109 110 112 110 109 106 Yorkshire and Humberside n/a n/a 198 186 189 167 167 174 173 168 169 173 Anglia n/a n/a 170 160 157 146 150 158 157 154 152 160 London North n/a n/a 176 169 168 163 164 171 171 166 169 172 London South n/a n/a 206 206 196 191 189 195 196 195 193 192 London West n/a n/a 155 150 136 127 130 135 140 141 133 141 South Western n/a n/a 125 123 131 126 130 134 131 136 130 128 West Midlands n/a n/a 172 166 163 156 158 160 164 166 164 171 North Western (Manchester) n/a n/a 132 127 134 124 124 130 128 127 125 127 North Western (Merseyside) n/a n/a 127 124 119 114 112 116 115 112 111 118 Wales n/a 118 115 108 104 95 97 98 98 98 93 98 Scotland n/a 185 185 182 178 159 155 156 153 151 144 152 Northern Ireland n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 58 56 56 56 United Kingdom n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1, 795 1, 779 1, 750 1, 794
Thousands Claimants by DSS Administrative Regions 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 North Eastern 277 261 266 267 264 — 216 232 208 222 London North 299 284 285 294 288 — 233 237 224 238 London South 273 245 257 271 256 — 214 220 215 213 South Western 132 128 135 139 137 — 114 123 110 107 Midlands 301 263 265 270 285 — 224 242 222 238 North Western 253 234 231 234 238 — 203 211 207 210 Wales 96 93 93 94 98 91 86 89 81 87 Scotland 150 143 150 147 160 157 141 149 138 143 Northern Ireland 56 55 54 51 53 60 56 58 n/a 53 United Kingdom 1, 837 1, 705 1, 737 1, 768 1, 780 1, 599 1, 487 1, 560 n/a 1, 511 630W
Thousands Income Support claimants by Government Standard Statistical Region 1992 1993 1994 1995 South East (Excluding London) 222 230 232 235 London (inner and outer) 178 185 187 189 North 86 96 96 97 Yorkshire and Humberside 145 151 154 155 The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work. The Wales cancer registry does not hold data on the incidence of cancer among former employees in the coking industry.
I understand that Bro Taf health authority has commissioned an investigation into cancer incidence amongst former employees of the furnacite plant.