§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of persons diagnosed as suffering from pneumoconiosis following a claim for disablement benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act in each year since 1953 in each of the North Wales counties and in each of the South Wales counties, respectively ; and how many of those were employed in slate quarrying and how many in coal mining.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will augment the pneumoconiosis fund so that workers in stone quarries may benefit from it.
728Wpopulation, and per employee in employment
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe latest date for which figures are available is 5th August 1974. The following table shows the number of unemployment claims which, on that date, were rated for payment:
§ Mr. O'MalleyNo new benefit for pneumoconiosis, other than the periodical increases in rates which apply generally, has been provided, or is contemplated, under the Industrial Injuries Scheme. The National Coal Board Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme to which the hon. Member may be referring is not a social security measure but a scheme set up by the coal mining industry for compensating pneumoconiosis sufferers in settlement of their common law claims against the board.