§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the number of men in mines suffering from 877W the effects of stone-dust; whether he is aware that medical men are certifying this disease, and that the numbers are rapidly increasing; whether he has seen the comments of a High Court Judge on this matter, who spoke of the necessity of scheduling this disease; and whether his Department is taking any steps to ascertain the facts in regard to this, with a view to inclusion in the schedule for compensation purposes?
§ Colonel LANE FOXOn the general question I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. W. Gren - fell), on 4th February. It should be emphasised that it is in rare and exceptional cases of dry-drilling in siliceous rock that men are exposed to danger, and I have at present no evidence that the number of men affected is increasing. The judicial comments to which the hon. Member refers have not been brought to my notice, but he may rest assured that I am keeping my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in close touch with the results of my investigations.