§ Mr. Dennis Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for industrial death benefit were made to pneumoconiosis panels by dependants of people dying from (a) asbestosis, (b) from asbestosis and lung cancer and (c) from mesothelioma in 1981 and 1982; and how many were successful.
§ Mr. NewtonInformation in the form requested is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The following table shows the number of awards of industrial death benefit for(a) asbestosis as at 31 December 1982 and (b) diffuse mesothelioma as at 30 June 1983 relating to deaths during 1981 and 1982:
1981 1982 Asbestosis 65 70 Diffuse mesothelioma 165 126 Industrial death benefit is not payable for lung cancer arising from exposure to asbestos as this is not a prescribed disease under the industrial injuries scheme. However, where a person suffering from asbestosis dies from lung cancer the death is regarded as a consequence of asbestosis and industrial death benefit is awarded.