HC Deb 03 February 1942 vol 377 c1057W
Mr. Daggar

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the report and memorandum on industrial pulmonary fibrosis, with special reference to silicosis in Wales, issued in April, 1940, which contains a recommendation that extensive research should be made for the prevention of silicosis and its treatment, and that sanatoria be established for persons suffering from this diseases; and what steps his Department is taking to deal with this matter?

Mr. Grenfell

My Department has studied this report and memorandum made to the Welsh National Memorial Association by two of its medical officers, and the medical inspector of mines has cussed its recommendation with the authors and with the staff of the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee, this, as my hon. Friend is aware, being the committee responsible for the extensive researches into silicosis which have been going on in South Wales and are the subject of a report now in the Press. The question of institutional treatment for sufferers from silicosis is closely bound up with that of institutional treatment for tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases. I propose to confer with the two sides of the industry in South Wales as soon as the report of the research committee is available.