§ Mr. Buchanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete consideration of the National Union of Mineworkers' report "Pneumoconiosis, Emphysemia and Bronchitis"; if he will be seeking consultations with other organisations on the subject; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 12 November 1979. —[Vol. 973, c.435–36.]
Since then, officials from the Department have met representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers and we have consulted the National Coal Board, the Home Office and other interested bodies. I have recently written to the union's general secretary with further comments and information on the issues discussed.
We have yet to complete our consideration of two of the points raised in the report and I shall write to the union about them as soon as possible.