HC Deb 03 May 1944 vol 399 cc1314-6
39 and 40. Dr. Morgan

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether, in planning for the new contemplated National Health Service, he has considered the advisability of taking steps for Workmen's Compensation for health workers exposed to infectious diseases and ailments in the course of, and resulting from, their occupation; whether he is aware that up to the present this risk has not been recognised statutorily for health workers on the lines of the scheduled diseases associated with industrial processes or exposures; and whether, in view of the hardships often caused in individual cases, he will consider this situation and study the workmen's compensation legislation of such countries as the U.S.S.R. and Mexico;

(2) whether, at any time since the scheduling of certain diseases after inquiry under the Workmen's Compensation legislation, his Department has submitted a request to the special Home Office Workmen's Compensation Committee dealing with the scheduling of industrial diseases for the scheduling of pulmonary tuberculosis as an occupational health risk in sanatoria and other institutions, having regard to the risks run in dealing with such an infective disease as tuberculosis; and if not, why not.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh)

I will, with permission, answer Questions No. 39 and 40 together.

Dr. Morgan

I am sorry, but I cannot give permission for that. The two Questions are entirely different, Mr. Speaker.

Miss Horsbrugh

The scheduling of diseases under the Workmen's Compensation Act is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, but I understand 'that the principle always followed—and endorsed by Departmental Committees on the subject—is that diseases to be scheduled must be so specific to the particular employment that their causation by that employment can be established in individual cases. This could not be applied to the ordinary infectious disease or tuberculosis, and my right hon. and learned Friend has made no recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I do not think that the National Health Service proposals affect the principle involved.

Dr. Morgan

I asked the hon. Lady whether any representations had been made by the Minister of Health to see that these diseases were scheduled, just as the T.U.C. is constantly making representations to the Home Office to schedule certain diseases incidental to certain occupations.

Miss Horsbrugh

I have said that my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health has not made recommendations to the Home Secretary. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is responsible and no doubt the T.U.C. and other organisations will make their representations to him.

Sir H. Williams

Is it in Order, when an objection is taken to two Questions being answered at the same time, for the hon. Member to put a supplementary on his first Question, which is really a supplementary to his second Question?

Dr. Morgan

That is not so and that intervention shows the ignorance of the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams).

Mr. Silverman

Is it not the case that it is wholly unnecessary to schedule tuberculosis or other infectious diseases under the Workmen's Compensation Act, in view of the fact that the courts have decided that in these circumstances the contracting of the disease is already an accident under the Act?

Miss Horsbrugh

These would be accidents under the Act. My reply to both Questions put down by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Dr. Morgan) was that no representations had been made by the Minister of Health to the Home Secretary, but that individual cases or opinions of bodies of workmen should be forwarded to the Home Secretary.

Dr. Morgan

Is it not a fact that all industrial diseases, even if scheduled, are regarded as occupational accidents?

Miss Horsbrugh

It depends entirely on what the hon. Member is referring to as an industrial disease.