§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Health the number of deaths for 1924 in the fishing industry, bricklaying, sweeps, dock labourers, carmen and carriers, and the mining industry?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINFigures of occupational mortality are obtained by the Registrar-General for those years only which are adjacent to the census year and are not available for 1924. For the period 1921–23 the figures asked for are as follow:
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DEATHS during the Three Years 1921–1923 of Males aged 16 Years and over engaged in the following Occupations. Occupation. No. of Deaths. Fishermen … … … … … … 1,412 Bricklayers … … … … … … 4,585 Bricklayers' Labourers … … … … … … 1,990 Chimney sweeps … … … … … … 408 Dock labourers … … … … … … 6,519 Carmen and carriers (horse-drawn vehicles) … … … … … … 9,034 Coal miners (all occupations), viz.:— Owners, agents, managers … … … … … 353 Subordinate superintending staff … … … … … 1,708 Hewers and getters … … … … … 16,185 Persons conveying material to the shaft … … … … … 2,267 Persons making and repairing roads … … … … … 3,069 Other workers below ground … … … … … 4,070 Other workers above ground … … … … … 4,743 32,395 Metalliferous miners (all occupations) … … … … … … 1,416 Other miners and quarriers (all occupations) … … … … … … 2,305
§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the statements that deaths from lead poisoning are on the increase among lead workers in the pottery trade, and that according to the latest statistics potters between the ages of 35 and 45 have the highest death rate in Great Britain; and whether he has any information as to the effectiveness or otherwise of the new Lead and Dust Regulations?
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONThere has been a small increase during the last few years in the deaths from lead poisoning in the pottery trade, but this cannot be taken as any indication of the present conditions. The records show that in the great majority of cases the deceased had been employed in the industry for many years before the Regulations of 1913 came into force. There can be no doubt, I think, if one looks at the total number of cases, that the 1913 Regulations have been effective. Whereas during the six years 1907–1912 the average number of cases was 90, the average for the last six years, 1919–1924, was just under 36. It is significant also that in the fatal cases there has been a substantial rise in the average age of the deceased. The statement that potters between the ages of 35 and 45 have the highest death rate in Great Britain is, I believe, incorrect.