§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a special inquiry into chest diseases among slate quarrymen with a view to establishing the relationship between emphysema and pneumoconiosis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephNo. I do not think such an inquiry would serve any useful purpose. In the assessment of disablement due to pneumoconiosis special provision is already made for emphysema as well as chronic bronchitis. If disablement from pneumoconiosis is assessed at 50 per cent. or more, the effects of any emphysema or chronic bronchitis are treated as the effects of the pneumoconiosis and are taken fully into account for benefit purposes. If the assessment for pneumoconiosis is less than 50 per cent. it can be increased to take account of the extent to which any emphysema or chronic bronchitis make the pneumoconiosis more disabling than it would otherwise be. These provisions are among the matters which the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has been434W considering in its major review of pneumoconiosis.