§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures available for the proportion of former mineworkers and quarrymen suffering from emphysema and bronchitis as compared with the proportion of the population as a whole suffering from these diseases; what criteria her Department uses for identifying industrial diseases; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyNo more recent figures are available than those for 1971–72 of which my hon. Friend has already been given details in my reply of 21st May 1975. [Vol. 892, c.451–2.] Research into the causes and incidence of bronchitis and emphysema, which is going on all the time, has not given any indication that the position is likely to have changed since 1971–72. The conditions which must be satisfied before a disease can be prescribed as an industrial disease attracting the special benefits of the Industrial Injuries scheme are set out in Section 76 (2) of the Social Security Act 1975 and of necessity require that there should be significant evidence of a direct link between the occupation and the disease 248W It is the absence of such evidence which prevents the prescription of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.