HC Deb 19 May 1958 vol 588 cc886-7
40. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what are his proposals for issuing regulations at an early date to implement the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council contained in their recent review of the Prescribed Diseases Schedule.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have accepted the Council's recommendations and draft Regulations intended to give effect to their proposals for amending the Industrial Injuries (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations are being referred to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council this week. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the hard and careful work which the Council put into this very useful review.

Mr. Prentice

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask if he will make it clear that it is not proposed to reduce the categories of workers who are covered for tuberculosis?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The general effect of these Regulations is to widen the cover. So far as tuberculosis is concerned, there is on the face of it a small narrowing.

41. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will institute an inquiry into disabilities of the elbow affecting manual workers, as suggested by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

My Department is already engaged in preliminary discussions with the organisations interested with a view to such an inquiry.

42. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, as the recent report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council was limited to the terms of prescription of diseases, he will now ask them to examine proposals for extending the list of diseases covered by the schedule.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No special request to the Council is necessary since it is now part of their normal duties periodically to review diseases which may be suitable for prescription.

Mr. Prentice

In view of the fact that in its recent Report the Council suggested it should be asked to look at certain specific diseases, for example, bursitis, but many others, will the Minister be expecting a report from the Council on these subjects, and will he take the opportunity to ask the Council to have another look at the question whether such diseases as emphysema might be prescribed in relation to certain industries?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

It has been the Council's duty since the Beney Committee reported—since 1956—to review diseases generally with a view to suggesting the formal reference to it of any which looked promising from this point of view. It has undertaken two fairly wide reviews which covered some of the diseases the hon. Member has mentioned.

Mr. Marquand

Is any study being made by the Council or by the Government of the possible necessity to prescribe radiation sickness as an industrial disease, in view of the large extent of work in the establishments of the Atomic Energy Authority, hospitals and elsewhere?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

That is an important Question. I should be grateful if the right hon. Gentleman would put it down.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the growing concern amongst medical men and others that the time has come for serious consideration to be given to scheduling emphysema amongst coal miners as an industrial disease?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the right hon. Gentleman knows well, that has been a matter of discussion and, indeed, of controversy for some years, but I think he will agree that it does not specifically arise on this Question.