§ 9. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Labour what recommendations have been made by the Industrial Health Advisory Committee; and what decisions have been reached by Her Majesty's Government on the recommendations.
§ Mr. WoodThe Industrial Health Advisory Committee has discussed many questions relating to the development of industrial health services since it was reconstituted in 1955, but its discussions generally lead to advice and guidance as to future work in this field rather than to formal recommendations. It was with the advice of the Committee that surveys were recently made in Halifax, of conditions in factories generally, and in Stoke, of conditions in the pottery industry. The recommendations of the Committee arising out of the Halifax Survey were published last month. The Government's view of those recommendations was stated in the reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) on 23rd April last. The report on the Potteries Survey has not yet been received.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhile appreciating the work which has been done, in view of the fact that it is now seven years since the Dale Committee of Inquiry recommended the extension of the Industrial Health Service and that both the Trades Union Congress and the British Medical Association have recommended action on this matter, will the hon. Gentleman, as soon as the reports are to hand, speed action? Will be particularly look at the industrial health centre at Slough, which I think he will recognise as a pioneer and model in this kind of activity?
§ Mr. WoodI have certainly read with interest of the work of the centre, and I hope to pay further attention to it in future. On the industrial health question, this was the main recommendation of the Halifax Survey, and, as I announced in answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central, we shall do our best to put that into practice.