HC Deb 11 May 1964 vol 695 cc25-7
28. Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make funds available to permit the continuance of the work of the Slough Occupational Hygiene Service.

Mr. Godber

No, Sir. The Slough Occupational Hygiene Service did valuable work for industry, but I am satisfied that present demand for such services can be met from other sources. My own responsibility for carrying out work of this kind is met through the Factory Inspectorate.

Mr. Mallalieu

Will the Minister look at this matter again? Is he aware that there is considerable anxiety in trade union circles about it?

Mr. Godber

Yes, I am aware of the concern and, in fact, I shall be discussing the matter with my Industrial Health Advisory Committee tomorrow. I have looked very carefully at it, but I have felt it right that we should try to cover by statutory requirements such things as need to be done. These come under the Factory Inspectorate where the facilities are adequate. Where it becomes a voluntary matter, however, one must rely on such facilities as are available and the Government should not support these.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Industrial Health Service at Slough is not affected by this closure, and could he say how this service is progressing?

Mr. Godber

It is true that the Industrial Health Service at Slough is entirely separate from the Occupational Hygiene Service. In fact, the Industrial Health Service at Slough is prospering very well. At present, it is serving 291 firms with about 25,000 employees involved.

Mr. Brockway

Does not the Minister's reply completely misrepresent the situation? Of course, the Industrial Health Centre is something different, but has not the Occupational Hygiene Centre been making inquiries on the effect on the health of workers of dust, noise and heat? That is a research job and it is very different from the factory inspector's job to which the right hon. Gentleman referred.

Mr. Godber

I have misrepresented nothing whatever. In fact, what I have said is exactly the position. There are, of course, other voluntary facilities in other parts of the country which will—

Mr. Brockway

Two.

Mr. Godber

Yes, but they will provide for the present demand. This is the point. The Factory Inspectorate does all that is necessary where there is a statutory requirement. I shall be very happy to make further statutory requirements in any industry if anyone will show me the need for them.

Mr. Prentice

Is it good enough for the Minister to say that the present demand is small and therefore that the service should close? Is he aware that the effort in occupational hygiene in this country is much less than it is in many other industrial countries? For instance, last year in the city of Detroit alone there were more visits to places of work by the occupational hygiene service than there were in the whole of industry in Britain. Surely the right hon. Gentleman should stimulate the demand in industry and ensure that there is a bigger national effort instead of allowing this centre to close, as he did.

Mr. Godber

I recognise that there is a difficulty between demand and the need which one would like to see more fully met. In so far as there is a need where there is a statutory requirement, I accept that it is my responsibility. I am prepared to discuss this further with my Industrial Health Advisory Committee, and that is what I am proposing to do this week.