§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what criteria are laid down for entitlement to compensation under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978;and whether he will consider widening this to take account of industries not already included;
(2) how many people are likely to benefit from a lump sum payment consequent upon the widening of the criteria of eligibility for entitlement under the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978.
§ Mr. MayhewThe entitlement conditions for a lump sum payment under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 are set out in section 2 of the Act. The diseases to which the Act applies are pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and diffuse mesothelioma. All types of pneumoconiosis, including silicosis, asbestosis and kaolinosis, are covered. Entitlement is not related to particular industries and the question of widening the criteria to take 553W account of additional industries does not, therefore, arise. There is no power to vary either the entitlement conditions or the diseases covered by statutory instrument.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to lay the regulations made under the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978 before the House.
§ Mr. MayhewDraft regulations prescribing the amounts of payments to be made under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 were laid before Parliament on Wednesday 5 December.