AN MP has queried Government figures on the number of steelworkers who die from lung diseases and has called for a study to clarify the situation.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said the figure of 12 new cases a year was "somewhat on the low side".

The MP has been investigating the issue after the inquest into the death of furnaceman Josef Hovath, who worked at the former Warner's Iron Works, at North Ormesby, Middlesbrough.

Coroner Michael Sheffield found that 65-year-old Hungarian immigrant Mr Horvath, of Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, had died of silicosis.

Silicosis is a lung disease more commonly associated with coal miners and is caused by inhaling dust. It kills thousands of people each year.

Mr Kumar obtained the latest figures on steelworkers' deaths from Work and Pensions Minister Nick Brown after he tabled a Parliamentary Question.

In his reply, Mr Brown said: "It is estimated that iron and steel industry workers accounted for an estimated 12 new cases per year of silicosis between 1996 and 2001.

"Over a similar period the Department for Work and Pensions assessed an average of seven new claims a year by iron and steelworkers seeking compensation."

Mr Kumar said: "These figures alone are tragic. However, I have to say that given the many thousands employed in the steel and iron industries in this country, they seem to be somewhat on the low side. I do feel this is an area of health research and investigation that needs to be enhanced.

"I will be writing to Nick Brown suggesting the Department of Work and Pensions and Department of Health consider a multi-disciplinary study of the extent of lung disease to assess what is the true picture and what this may mean for expenditure by the NHS."

Mr Kumar's call follows a three-year-old health study in Consett, County Durham, which showed that incidents of throat cancer among former steelworkers in the area were 18 per cent higher than the regional average.

On Teesside, there have been a number of calls from council leaders and MPs for health studies to establish if there is a link between the industry and throat cancer.

Corus, formerly British Steel, has consistently denied that there is any link.