§ 53. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Minister of Labour to what extent persons suffering from tuberculosis are being debarred from benefiting from the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, on account of the nature of their disability and the necessity of undergoing a medical examination as a condition of participating in superannuation schemes of the industries concerned.
§ Mr. IsaacsSufferers from tuberculosis are not debarred from benefiting from the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a not unnatural reluctance on the part of employers to admit people suffering from T.B. to jobs that are reserved for disabled persons, and can he look into this to see that T.B. sufferers are given the same treatment as is accorded to other disabled persons?
§ Mr. IsaacsThey are, in fact, given that treatment. Obviously there are some kinds of occupation in enclosed premises or where the workers work in close proximity to each other where it is not wise to have this class of person, but there are many other occupations where they can be, and are, so employed. I have no real complaint against employers for making an unreasonable distinction.