HC Deb 16 April 1962 vol 658 cc10-1
11. Mr. B. Taylor

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider prescribing dupuytrens contracture as an industrial disease.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No, Sir.

Mr. Taylor

That is a very brief and unsatisfactory reply, but may I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that there are quite a number of these cases—and I believe that the number is growing—most of whom cannot go back to their pre-accident work, who have no assessment for disability in the form of special hardship allowance? Would the right hon. Gentleman consider submitting this question to the Industrial Diseases Sub-Committee for report, with a view to prescription?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I keep the matter of all these diseases under review, but I must say that on the present evidence this complaint does not seem to get anywhere near satisfying either of the conditions of Section 55 (2) of the Industrial Injuries Act, 1946.

Mr. Taylor

But would the right hon. Gentleman promise to refer the matter to the Industrial Diseases Sub-Committee, so that we can have an up-to-date report on what is a very serious matter to those people concerned in the mining industry? In the Mansfield area, I have quite a number of people who are suffering from this disease and cannot go back to their pre-accident work?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

In the present state of the evidence, I do not think that it would be either appropriate or in accordance with ordinary practice to submit a disease which does not appear to come anywhere near meeting the conditions of Section 55, but if the hon. Gentleman has any evidence that he would like to send to me, I shall always be very glad to consider it.