§ 12. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the information published in the Fluorosis Report, Number 22, by the Medical Research Council, issued by His Majesty's Stationery Office in March, 1949, the Government will now declare fluorosis to be an industrial disease.
§ Dr. SummerskillNo, Sir. The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council considered the Report in June, 1949, and advised that, in view of its findings, there would be no justification for prescribing the disease.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonWill the right hon. Lady agree that on page 68 the Report says:
Within each broad age-group there is little doubt that there tends to be an increasing incidence of X-ray abnormalities with increasing length of exposure to fumes"?Furthermore, is she aware that, as a result of ill-health, 447 workers left the British Aluminium Company last year—that is, nearly one-third of the workers employed there—after having been there a short time?
§ Dr. SummerskillI have examined the Report and the X-ray pictures very carefully and I recognise that there are certain bony changes, but the noble Lord must realise that I was advised by eminent doctors in this matter and they say that there are no clinical symptoms which would justify the prescription of this disease.