HC Deb 18 February 1957 vol 565 cc21-2
39. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now pay benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act to those who suffer from respiratory disease as a result of living in areas where the atmosphere is heavily contaminated by commercial processes.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am afraid that the hon. Member's proposal, which raises wide questions, goes far beyond the provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act, 1946.

Dr. Stross

While recognising that the proposal contains a very wide suggestion, may I ask whether the Minister does not agree that to distinguish between injury and disease, irrespective of how it was obtained, is becoming very old-fashioned? Is it not a fact that when industrial processes contaminate an area, citizens who suffer from bronchial disease are suffering directly as a result of those industrial processes?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Industrial Injuries Act is designed to deal with the special risks of accidents and diseases arising from particular employments. Questions of diseases affecting people in different areas certainly, in my judgment, ought not to be dealt with by means of the Industrial Injuries Fund, contributions to which are made against accidents at work.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

In view of the fact that air pollution is a great scourge in many places which are not regarded as being heavily affected—for example, Derby—and as it does have a measurable effect in these classes of disease, could not the Minister look into the matter again?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that disease suffered, apart from industrial causes, can be dealt with under the normal sickness benefit provisions of the National Insurance Acts, which I should have thought was a much better way of dealing with it.