HC Deb 05 December 1961 vol 650 cc1136-7
Q5. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the appointment of a Secretary for Industrial Health and the establishment of a new department to promote and administer a comprehensive occupational health service.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Pavitt

In spite of the good work being done by the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health, may I ask whether the Prime Minister is aware that there are still two or three people killed every working day and that fifty-six times more people are absent from work through illness than through strikes? According to Parkinson's Law, if one divides things between two Ministries one gets little advance. Perhaps the Prime Minister will consider doing the same as was done for the Department of Technical Co-operation, and combine two Ministries in this way?

The Prime Minister

I am anxious to make all the progress we can. I do not wish to stand in the way for purely administrative reasons, and I will discuss this matter further with the Minister of Labour to see by what means he thinks further progress can be made.