§ 20 and 21. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's Industrial Health Survey of the Pottery Industry in the city of Stoke-on-Trent; and what general action it is proposed to take;
(2) what particular action is to be taken on the pneumoconiosis chapter in the Industrial Health Survey, and on other health hazards dealt with in the survey.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Richard Wood)The Report was published on 24th June and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The Report has now been referred to the Joint Standing Committee of the Pottery Industry. This Committee, which consists of representatives of both sides of industry and of the Factory Inspectorate, will consider what further action should be taken to deal with the outstanding problems referred to in the Report and will make recommendations to me.
The Committee has already had one meeting and has agreed that priority should be given to a consideration of the problems of dust, temperature and ventilation in potters' shops.
§ 22. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the appreciation of the surveys conducted by his Department in Halifax and in the city of Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will now have one carried out in Lancashire on the engineering industry, or select an area within the county suitable for a survey in engineering.
§ Mr. WoodMy right hon. Friend is glad to have this indication of appreciation of the two industrial health surveys recently carried out by the Factory Inspectorate. He proposes to consult the Industrial Health Advisory Committee on the question of further industrial health surveys.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWhile I appreciate that reply, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary will draw his right hon. Friend's attention to the suggestion made in the Question?