HC Deb 02 February 1959 vol 599 cc22-4
35. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has to amend the Prescribed Diseases Schedule to the Industrial Injuries Act so as to include poisoning by hexachlorocyclohexane, BHC.

The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

None, Sir.

Mr. Prentice

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the Report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council last April which referred to the possible toxic efforts of this substance and suggested that it might be asked to consider it for prescription? As other toxic substances are prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act, why does he not propose to take any steps to deal with this substance?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

We have not been asked to take steps towards prescription but to comment to the Industrial Diseases Sub-Committee, and that we are doing. On the broader question, in which I know the hon. Member is interested, it is the fact that there has been no authenticated case of occupational poisoning from the use of this insecticide in this country and that the limited number of cases abroad arose from severe exposure on particular occasions and would quite plainly have fallen within the accident provisions of our own Industrial Injuries Act if they had arisen here.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Will the Minister be good enough to pronounce the word after "by" in the last line of the Question and give the House the benefit of an interpretation of its meaning?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The hon. Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) put the Question on the Order Paper, and I should not like to deprive him of that honour.

Mr. Prentice

I understand that it is an indirect derivative of benzene. I prefer to call it BHC rather than give it a long name.

36. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has to amend the Prescribed Diseases Schedule to the Industrial Injuries Act so as to include bursitis of the shoulder.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council is studying this matter and I cannot anticipate its conclusions.

Mr. Prentice

Is not the Minister taking rather a long time in dealing with this matter, which was referred to in the Report of the Advisory Council nine months ago? Bursitis of the knee and of the elbow have been prescribed for many years. Could he give the House any indication of when the regulation is likely to be brought forward?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The position is that the Industrial Diseases Sub-Committee, having taken a preliminary view of the matter, asked me to submit the matter formally to the Council. That I have done, but, as the hon. Member knows, I must await the Council's advice.

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