HC Deb 16 July 1974 vol 877 cc72-3W
Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people, resident in the Hebden Bridge area of Yorkshire, have died due to asbestosis in the last 10 years; how many people, living in the same area, have been diagnosed as suffering from asbestosis in the same period; and how many such people are in receipt of industrial disability benefit, quantified by percentage of disability.

Mr. O'Malley

The only relevant information available derives from a special survey of recipients of industrial disablement benefit for asbestosis in February 1971. The number of cases at the Department's Todmorden local office, which covered among other areas Hebden Bridge, was as follows:

Percentage Assessment of Disablement Number
10 8
20 7
30 3
40 5
50 3
60 1
70 2
80 2
Total: 31

Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people living in the Hebden Bridge area of West Yorkshire, have had their first claim for industrial disability benefit for asbestosis disallowed by pneumoconiosis panels in the last 10 years; how many such claims were agreed on second application; and what was the average time which elapsed between such claims.

Mr. O'Malley

I regret that this information is not available.