HC Deb 15 June 1977 vol 933 cc195-6W
Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people, whose mortality has been due to asbestosis, or related cancers, have died in each year since 1969.

Mr. Orme

The available information for Great Britain is as follows:

DEATH REGISTRATION Deaths assigned to asbestosis as underlying cause (ICD 515.2) INDUSTRIAL INJURIES SCHEME Deaths accepted as due to or materially accelerated by asbestosis
1969 22 Not available
1970 30 Not available
1971 27 Not available
1972 32 Not available
1973 28 Not available
1974 25 71
1975 47 59
* This includes some deaths from lung cancer found in the presence of asbestosis.
DEATH REGISTRATION Deaths assigned to mesothelioma as underlying cause INDUSTRIAL INJURIES SCHEME Deaths accepted as due to or materially accelerated by mesothelioma (prescribed disease 44)*
1969 120 22
1970 169 18
1971 165 24
1972 187 22
1973 201 28
1974 196 41
1975 252† 72
* It is probable that some cases of mesothelioma are recorded as pneumoconiosis which would make these figures an underestimate.
† Provisional.

Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been awarded industrial disability benefit because of asbestosis by pneumoconiosis medical boards in each year since 1969; and how many have been approved on appeal to the Central Pneumoconiosis Panel although rejected by a board in the same period.

Mr. Orme

The figures for the eight calendar years 1969–1976 were:

Cases of asbestosis diagnosed by pneumoconiosis medical boards Cases of asbestosis diagnosed by central pneumoconiosis medical boards
1969 134 1
1970 153 Nil
1971 145 1
1972 125 2
1973 143 1
1974 139 3
1975 161 5
1976 189 5

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