§ Mr. HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the appointment of a medical board to inquire into the occurrence of diseases of the respiratory organs among stoneworkers, not specifically diagnosed as silicosis or silicosis accompanied by tuberculosis, but which may be caused thereby or associated therewith, with a view to extending existing legislation so as to provide for the payment of compensation to a workman incapacitated by silicosis accompanied by any other disease or diseases of the respiratory organs?
§ Sir J. GILMOURA committee has already been set up by the Medical Research Council for the further investigation of pulmonary conditions in addition to silicosis associated with the inhalation of dust arising from industrial processes, and if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will consult the committee about them.
§ Mr. HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the difficulties in the application of the silicosis schemes to workers who during their working lives are employed sometimes in processes or industries mentioned in one scheme and sometimes in processes or industries mentioned in another; and whether he will introduce legislation to consolidate and so amend the schemes as to prevent such workmen being deprived of compensation solely on account of their inability to prove that the disease was due to employment in any one process or industry when in fact the diseases may be due to employment in more than one process or industry, each of which is covered by a separate scheme?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIf the hon. Member will send me particulars of cases showing that hardship has arisen in the manner suggested in the question, I shall be glad to consider them.