§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the mortality rates amongst men awarded benefit by the Wales, Cardiff and Swansea pneumoconiosis medical panels, respectively, for lung cancer, mesothelioma, other cancers and asbestosis, respectively.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe Department does not have the information requested, but I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that a study has been undertaken by the Medical Research Council (Pneumoconiosis Unit) of men and women who had successfully claimed industrial injuries benefit during the period 1952 to 1976 at the London, Cardiff and Swansea pneumoconiosis medical panels. The study showed the following 227W deaths among the 272 men seen by the Cardiff and Swansea panels:
Disease Number of Deaths Lung Cancer 31 Mesothelioma 7 Other Cancers 6 Asbestosis 24