§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of scrutinies and the number and percentage referred for boarding in the coal mining industry in each year since 1948; what number of boardings resulted in non-diagnosis of industrial disease; what number of those first diagnosed were employed by the NCB and how many were employed at licensed collieries; how many were ex-miners; and if he will provide this information for each NCB area.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI have been asked to reply.
I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to refer the hon. Member to Tables 1 and 8 in the Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics for 1973 published by HMSO, to the relevant notes in the introduction to the Digest and to the equivalent tables in earlier volumes. Copies of the Digests are available in the Library of the House.
It is regretted that information additional to that in the tables required by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.