§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of deaths of former coal miners from pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases in the Northumberland, North Durham and South Durham areas of the National Coal Board for each of the last 10 years; and what are the numbers for the whole of Great Britain's coalfields for the same period.
§ Mr. DeanThe statistics available relate to cases for which death benefit for pneumoconiosis 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. Figures are not available for particular areas but those for the whole of Great Britain for the years 1960–69 are given below; figures for 1970 have not yet been received.
1960 … … … … 1,017 1961 … … … … 1,054 1962 … … … … 950 1963 … … … … 1,016 1964 … … … … 866 1965 … … … … 860 1966 … … … … 697 1967 … … … … 631 1968 … … … … 675 1969 … … … … 629