HC Deb 23 February 1971 vol 812 cc97-8W
Mr. Harper

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths were caused by, or attributed to, pneumoconiosis over the past 10 years; and how many of these involved miners.

Mr. Dean

The statistics available relate to cases for which death benefit was awarded under the Industrial Injuries Act, and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme and to cases certified for workmen's compensation purposes. The figures for 1960–69 are given beyond; those for 1970 are not yet available.

Total number of cases Number involving coal-miners
1960 1,282 1,017
1961 1,354 1,054
1962 1,226 950
1963 1,293 1,016
1964 1,131 866
1965 1,096 860
1966 915 697
1967 813 631
1968 871 675
1969 807 629

Mr. Harper

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were certified under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946, as suffering from pneumoconiosis; and how many of these were miners, for the years 1960 to 1970.

Mr. Dean

The figures for Great Britain for the years 1960 to 1969 are set out below. Those for 1970 are not yet available.

Total number Certified Number of miners
1960 3,654 3,319
1961 3,223 2,807
1962 2,609 2,209
1963 2,688 2,307
1964 1,648 1,249
1965 1,403 1,036
1966 1,264 968
1967 1,103 762
1968 1,108 804
1969 964 655

Mr. Harper

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current total of certified cases of pneumoconiosis in the United Kingdom; and how many of these are miners.

Mr. Dean

At 30th September, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, benefit for pneumoconiosis Injuries Fund in 51,157 cases; 44,035 cases related to work in coal-mines. These figures do not, of course, include Northern Ireland.

Mr. Harper

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures, for the years 1960 to 1970, of the number of certified cases of pneumoconiosis whose deaths were certified as not being caused by, or contributed to, the disease; what was the number of deaths arising from the disease where there had been no previous certification; and how many of these were miners.

Mr. Dean

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Harper

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how accurate, in percentage figures, are the X-ray results in determining whether a person is suffering from pneumoconiosis, in the light of subsequent post-mortem findings.

Mr. Dean

It is not possible to give any percentage, but a high degree of accuracy can be obtained by careful consideration of the evidence from an adequate radiological examination, occupational history and clinical examination.