§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1), in view of the fact that 65 per cent. of all new cases 76W of pneumoconiosis diagnosed each year are from the coal mining industry and that 773 were diagnosed during 1970, if he will list the amount of research being carried out by Government establishments which is designed to combat this industrial disease;
(2) if he is aware that deaths from pneumoconiosis among coalminers are on the increase, namely 657 in 1967, 714 in 1968, 716 in 1969 and 726 in 1970; and whether he will consider apportioning more Government funds on preventive and curative research into this industrial disease;
(3) if he will list the establishments in the United Kingdom that are involved in pneumoconiosis research, indicating their specific research activities.
§ Mr. RidleyThe following is a list of Government and other establishments in Great Britain and their activities in relation to the cause, prevention and cure of coal workers' pneumoconiosis:
- 1. The Safety in Mines Research Establishment of the Department of Trade and Industry—dust sampling, instrumentation, fundamental research in dust control, methods of personal protection.
- 2. The Pneumoconiosis Research Unit of the Medical Research Council—clinical aspects of pneumoconiosis, treatment and prognosis.
- 3 The Institute of Occupational Medicine (an N.C.B.-financed trust comprising the Board's former medical research establishments)—relationship between environmental dust and pneumoconiosis, causation of progressive massive fibrosis, X-ray film reading techniques, relationship between chronic bronchitis and dust exposure, relationship between emphysema and oxides of nitrogen, dust physics.
- 4. The Mining Research and Development Establishment of the National Coal Board—dust suppression engineering, dust physics.
All these institutions keep in close touch with research being conducted in other countries. The Medical Research Council is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. I am assured, however, that no worthwhile projects are being held up for lack of funds.
The number of deaths from pneumoconiosis in recent years does not reflect present day working conditions but those prevailing up to 60 years ago. Despite the decline in the prevalence of pneumoconiosis amongst coal workers as measured by the National Coal Board's periodic X-ray scheme over the past 15 years, 77W research connected with the prevention of the disease has recently been increased, both by the National Coal Board, which is responsible for the bulk of the research, and the Department's Safety in Mines Research Establishment.