§ 55. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many of the 647 cases which were examined by the pneumoconiosis medical panels in 1954 and found not to be suffering from the disease of pneumoconiosis, but found to be suffering from emphysema, were coal-mine workers.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI regret that this information is not available.
§ 56. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the steep rise in the number of cases found to be suffering from emphysema, if he will now consider bringing the disease within the ambit of the Industrial Injuries Act, 1954, for the payment of compensation.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am afraid that this complaint, which is fairly widespread after middle age, would not on present evidence satisfy the statutory conditions for prescription as an occupational disease under the Industrial Injuries Act. Nor have I any evidence to confirm the statement made in the first part of the hon. Member's Question.
§ Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many pottery workers were examined for suspected pneumoconiosis in 1955, when 382 claims were allowed; and how many cases were found to be suffering from emphysema, where pneumoconiosis was not diagnosed.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn 1955 406 pottery workers were examined by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panels following claims for benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act. Information as to the number of cases found to be suffering from emphysema in which pneumoconiosis was not diagnosed is not available.