§ 65 and 66. Dr. Strossasked the Paymaster-General (1) whether he has noted that in 1955 eleven miners in north Staffordshire were found to be suffering 123W from pneumoconiosis accompanied by lung tuberculosis, as compared with eight in the rest of the West Midlands Division; and whether he will make a statement on the comparatively high north Staffordshire figure;
(2) whether he has noted that the number of cases of pneumoconiosis in north Staffordshire miners, diagnosed for the first time in 1955, is higher than in 1954; and whether he will make a statement on this increase and the high total figure of 458 cases for the year.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe figures for pneumoconiosis quoted by the hon. Member appear in the Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics for 1955, together with an explanation of the reasons why they provide no guide to the present risks of contracting the disease. This explanation, which applies equally to the figures for tuberculosis was accepted by the National Joint Pneumoconiosis Committee and I do not think that I can usefully add to it.