Oral Answers to Questions — Industrial Diseases (Silicosis).

– in the House of Commons am ar 15 Mehefin 1933.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Sir William Jenkins Sir William Jenkins , Castell-nedd

16.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Joseph Patrick Brown, Neath, died on 21st March, 1933, suffering from silicosis with marked anthracosis, and after a post-mortem examination he was certified as having crude silica (of dried lung) 2.17 per cent. and pure silica (of dried lung) 2.12 per cent.; that Brown had not worked since February, 1930, and because he was three weeks over the period provided for in the regulations compensation is refused to his widow and eight children; and will he take steps to amend the regulations so as to include all cases at any period?

Photo of Sir Douglas Hacking Sir Douglas Hacking , Chorley

The scheme provides in effect that no claim can be made if the workman dies more than three years after his last employment in the process which gave rise to silicosis, and has not in the meantime obtained a certificate from the medical board or already received compensation. The principle of a time limit is recognised in the provisions of the Statute dealing with the application of the Act to industrial diseases, and I am advised that so far as our present experience goes, three years is a sufficient period to allow for disability due to silicosis to develop after the man has left the employment. I am informed that Brown was disabled by silicosis some time before the expiry of the three years limit and that this was known to his advisers, but that unfortunately no application to the (medical board was made until after his death. The case is undoubtedly a hard one, but my right hon. Friend does not consider that it would justify him in proposing an amendment such as the hon. Member suggests.