§ 5. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive the report of the expert committee set up to review the evidence on the medical problems of asbestos exposure, and what action is being taken to screen all workers and contacts at risk.
§ Mr. ThorntonThe Advisory Panel on the Medical Problems of Occupational Exposure to Asbestos which the Senior Medical Inspector has set up to advise and assist him, has made a useful start and is continuing its studies of these difficult problems. As regards the second part of the question, it has been decided to revise the existing Asbestos Industry Regulations, and preliminary work has begun. Careful consideration is being given in this connection to the inclusion of requirements for the medical screening of employees.
§ Mrs. Joyce ButlerCan my hon. Friend give any idea when these various studies are going to come to fruition and we shall 4 have a positive scheme for dealing with this recognised danger?
§ Mr. ThorntonI recognise and sympathise with my hon. Friend's concern in this matter, but I think she will appreciate that it raises a rather wider and in some respects a more serious issue, and there are some very difficult medical and technical problems to be resolved.