§ Mr. Beaneyasked the Minister for Energy whether he will commission a study of the health risks that affect the mining community, both workers and their families, arising from their environment, in the light of the evidence in the journal Lancet, a copy of which is in his possession, with a view to amending the compensation laws to provide for this particular problem.
§ Mr. EmeryThe major health hazard in the mining industry, pneumoconiosis, has been studied by the National Coal Board and the Medical Research Council for many years and the work continues. More generally, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has proposed a study of the future of the industry, including consideration of the Government's contribution to compensation for the health hazards in coal mining, as soon as normal work is resumed.