§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many former mineworkers are in receipt of a disablement assessment for vibration white finger; and in how many cases an assessment was made in the last year for which figures are available; [69926]
537W(2) how many former mineworkers are in receipt of a disablement pension for vibration white finger; and how many pensions were awarded for the disease in the last year for which figures are available. [69927]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
At 5 April 1997 there were approximately 1,000 awards1 of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) in payment due to vibration white finger, where the attributable industry was coalmining.
In the year 1997–98 there were 183 assessments2 made where coalmining was the attributable industry, above the disablement threshold for payment (14 per cent.) which would have resulted in payment of benefit. There were 2,175 new assessments2 which were below the disablement assessment threshold for payment (14 per cent.). Some of
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit—newly diagnosed awards of asbestos-related diseases in the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 All Men Women All Occupations 1,030 1,008 22 Corporate managers 2 2 0 General managers 1 1 0 Physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals 3 3 0 Other professionals 1 1 0 Physical and engineering science associate professionals 17 17 0 Life science and health associate professionals 1 0 1 Teaching associate professionals 1 0 1 Office clerks 4 2 2 Personal and protective services workers 6 4 2 Extraction and building trades workers 280 279 1 Metal, machinery and related trades workers 301 299 2 Precision, handicraft, printing and related trades workers 52 51 1 Other craft and related trades workers 38 35 3 Stationary plant and related trades workers 97 96 1 Machine operators and assemblers 43 37 6 Drivers and mobile plant operators 69 69 0 Sales and services elementary occupations 14 12 2 Agricultural, fishery and related labourers 2 2 0 Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport 97 97 0 Armed forces 1 1 0 Notes:
1. Figures are not available by occupation or attributable agent for the total numbers of people receiving benefit related to asbestos.
2. Asbestos related diseases that are prescribed for the purpose of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit are Pneumoconiosis (prescribed disease D1), where the attributable agent is asbestos, Diffuse mesothelioma (prescribed disease D3), Carcinoma of the lung (prescribed disease D8) and Bilateral diffuse pleural thickening (prescribed disease D9). The table shows the new diagnosis for benefit purposes of these asbestos-related diseases, which have attracted an award of benefit in the 1997–98 year, by gender and occupation.
Source:
DSS (Analytical Services Division). Figures based on 100 per cent. data.