§ Mr. Deanasked the Minister of Social Security (1) if she will give an estimate of the number of people with assessments of 50 per cent. or more in respect of pneumoconiosis and also suffering from emphysema or bronchitis who would benefit if their emphysema or bronchitis were also taken into account in the assessment of their disability;
(2) how many people with assessments of 50 per cent. or more in respect of pneumoconiosis and associated conditions were in receipt of industrial injury benefits at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. LoughlinAt 30th September, 1965. there were approximately 6,300 beneficiaries receiving disablement pensions under the Industrial Injuries Act for pneumoconiosis assessed at 50 per cent. or more. Some 4,000 of these already receive the maximum rate of disablement pension or its equivalent. The remainder would benefit were the effects of any accompanying emphysema or bronchitis wholly taken into account in the assessment of their industrial disablement.