§ Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what percentage of cases examined by the pneumoconiosis panels are assessed at 1 per cent.; and the number so assessed.
§ Miss PittSince the same rate of benefit is payable for all assessments of 10 per cent. or less it is not necessary for the pneumoconiosis medical boards to give precise assessments within this range. The information asked for is accordingly not available.
§ Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether his attention has been drawn to the undesirability of assessing loss of faculty due to pneumoconiosis at less than 20 per cent.; and what changes he proposes to make in the methods of assessment.
§ Miss PittMy right hon. Friend knows it has recently been suggested that 20 per cent. should be taken as the lowest limit of recognisable disability for pneumoconiosis. However, the present system which provides a special rate of pension for penumoconiosis if the disablement is assessed at 10 per cent. or less is based on the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council whose report on pneumoconiosis was published in 1953 and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to alter it.