HC Deb 23 April 1956 vol 551 cc115-6W
58. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many cases of pneumoconiosis and of pneumoconiosis complicated by tuberculosis among pottery workers were diagnosed by the pneumoconiosis panels, in 1950 and 1955.

Miss Pitt

Complete figures are not available for 1950 but in the nine months ended 31st December, 1950, pneumoconiosis was diagnosed in 128 pottery workers following initial claims for benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act. In 1955 pneumoconiosis was diagnosed in 382 pottery workers following claims under the Industrial Injuries Act. These figures include cases where pneumoconiosis was accompanied by tuberculosis.

59 and 60. Mr. T. Brown

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) if he will give the number of pneumoconiosis cases, or suspected pneumoconiosis cases, which have been examined by the pneumoconiosis medical panels set up in the British coal fields since 8th November, 1954, setting out the number, separately, for each medical panel, who have been found to be suffering from emphysema;

(2) if he will give the number of pneumoconiosis cases, or suspected pneumoconiosis cases, which have been examined by the pneumoconiosis medical panels set up in the British coal fields since 10th March, 1952, setting out the number, separately, for each medical panel, who have been found to be suffering from emphysema.

Miss Pitt

Not all the information asked for is available but some information was recently obtained by a special inquiry about cases examined under the Industrial Injuries Act during 1954. The information is as follows:

PNEUMOCONIOSIS MEDICAL PANELS
Cases examined under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act in 1954 in which pneumoconiosis was not diagnosed but it was noted that emphysema was present
Panel
Cardiff 111
Swansea 17
Stoke-on-Trent 74
Sheffield 208
Edinburgh 154
Manchester 48
Newcastle 9
London 13
Bristol 13

Note.—These figures do not cover all the cases in which emphysema was present.