§ Mr. Forresterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the total number of men and women pottery workers and ex-pottery workers receiving industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis in North Staffordshire at the latest available date;
(2) what is the total number of miners and ex-miners receiving industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis in North Staffordshire at the latest available date;
(3) in how many medical reviews in the North Staffordshire area of pottery workers and ex-pottery workers in receipt of industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis the percentage benefit was increased, remained the same or was decreased in each of the last three years;
(4) in how many medical reviews in the North Staffordshire area of miners and ex-miners in receipt of industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis the percentage benefit was increased, remained the same or was decreased in each of the last three years;
(5) how many applications from men and women pottery workers and ex-pottery workers in the North Staffordshire area for industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis were granted in each of the last three years; and at what percentage;
(6) how many applications from miners and ex-miners in the North Staffordshire area for industrial injuries benefit from pneumoconiosis were granted in each of the last three years; and at what percentage;
(7) how many new applications for industrial injuries benefit for pneumo- 714W coniosis were made in the North Staffordshire area from men and women pottery workers and ex-pottery workers in each of the last three years;
(8) how many new applications for industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis were made in the North Staffordshire area from coal miners and ex-coal miners in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that the information is not available in the form and detail requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, it may be helpful to my hon. Friend to have some information relating to the West Midlands region of my Department, which includes North Staffordshire. At 30th September 1976, the latest date for which these particular figures are available, a total of 900 people (440 males and 460 females) were in receipt of industrial disablement benefit for pneumoconiosis due to employment in the pottery and glass industries. At that time in the region there were 2,970 industrial disablement pensions in payment to people disabled by pneumoconiosis resulting from work in coalmining.
The following table shows the number of people, employed or formerly employed in pottery and coalmining, who were examined in each of the last three years by the pneumoconiosis medical panel at Stoke-on-Trent, and the number who, in connection with a claim for industrial disablement benefit, were diagnosed as suffering from pneumoconiosis:
1975 1976 1977* Number examined: Pottery 39 35 39 Coalmining 154 121 117 Number diagnosed: Pottery 15 12 16 Coalmining 54 28 21 * From 17th October 1977, figures include examinations which previously would have been made by the Birmingham panel.
§ Mr. Forresterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in receipt of industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis in the United Kingdom have an increased percentage of benefit because associated chest complaints are taken into account.
§ Mr. Forresterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of men and women receiving industrial injuries benefit for pneumoconiosis in 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975, and at the latest available date.
1960* 1965 1970 1975 1976 Males … … … … 46,870 47,835 42,060 33,910 32,600 Females … … … … 665 755 640 590 570 47,535 48,590 42,700 34,500 33,170 * The figures for 1960 show the position as at 31st October and for the other years as at 30th September.