§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what figures are available for the incidence of bronchitis in the population as a whole; and how this compares with the incidence among those with a lengthy history in dust-creating occupations such as coal mining;
(2) what figures are available for the incidence of emphysema in the population as a whole; and how this compares with the incidence among those with a lengthy history in dust-creating occupations such as coal mining.
§ Mr. RossiI regret that information is not available in the form requested. The only figures available on the incidence of bronchitis and emphysema are the annual numbers of claims to national insurance sickness and invalidity benefit in respect of these diseases. These relate only to the insured population, not to the population as a whole, and are not broken down according to occupation.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what statistical evidence there is of the relationship of bronchitis and emphysema to certain dust-creating occupations such as coal mining and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will take steps to list bronchitis and emphysema as industrial diseases for people who have worked in certain dust-creating occupations for a given length of time; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiI have nothing to add to the information given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Prentice), the former Minister for Social Security, on 21 January 1980.—[Vol. 977, c.51–3.]