22 Dr. BarnettStross asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) how many workers in Stoke-on-Trent have been certified to be suffering from industrial dermatitis since 5th July, 1948; and how many have had their claims for compensation rejected after receiving payments for six months;
(2) how many workers in England and Wales who have been suffering from industrial dermatitis for six months or longer are assessed as having a loss of faculty of more than 20 per cent.; how many as having a loss of faculty of 20 per cent. or less; and what are the figures for Stoke-on-Trent;
(3) what is the average period of time lost from work in cases of industrial dermatitis; and how many workers suffering from this disability return to their former occupations.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that statistics in the form asked for are not available. I hope, however, to be able to publish later in the year an analysis of claims for injury and disablement benefit which should give, in respect of the different regions, information on the incidence and duration of prescribed industrial diseases and the assessments made for loss of faculty. Information so far available indicates that the average period of time lost from work in cases of industrial dermatitis is about 10 weeks I have no information as to the number of workers suffering from this disability who return to their former occupations.
§ Dr. StrossWhile thanking the right hon. Lady for the answer and for the information which she proposes to give to the House later, may I ask whether she is aware of the fact that there is considerable irritation and confusion 989 among workers who are first certified to be suffering from industrial dermatitis and who receive compensation for six months, and then a second consultant six months later, on behalf of the Ministry, says that they never were so suffering; and will she do something about it and provide dermatological opinions in the first instance to avoid this confusion?
§ Dr. SummerskillI think that my hon. Friend will agree with me that it is very difficult to diagnose dermatitis. Often it is of an obscure origin, and it is then more difficult to arrive at a correct prognosis. He must also realise that there is a shortage of dermatologists. In order to overcome this, arrangements are made for the patient in the first instance to see the examining surgeon, and if the examining surgeon is not satisfied and should find it rather difficult to arrive at a diagnosis, we can then call in a dermatologist; and, as I think the hon. Gentleman knows, at the second stage when the patient is asking for disablement benefit he is then examined by a specialist.