§ Mr. Kellyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Edmund 1992W Ashworth, late of 10, Abbey Street, Rochdale, died on 17th August last of asbestosis, but that the medical board has not issued their certificate in spite of repeated efforts; and will he take steps to expedite the issue of this certificate and to prevent future delay in issuing asbestosis certificates?
§ Mr. LloydI understand that exceptional difficulties arose in this case because no application to the board was made until the middle of September, and when the board endeavoured to collect the evidence as to the cause of death, it was found that practically none of the material from the post-mortem was still available. The board reached a decision early in November, but subsequently the solicitor who had made the application informed the board that the widow had died and that a certificate was no longer required. It has been impressed upon the board that there should be no avoidable delay, but their difficulties are much increased if applications for certificates in fatal cases are not made immediately on the workman's death.