HC Deb 02 May 1966 vol 727 cc1211-2
8. Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will classify trichlorethylene as dangerous to health in order to establish another industrial disease so that victims of the fumes created shall be entitled to industrial injury benefit and to compensation if unable to continue their normal work.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Harold Davies)

Control of the use in factories of substances which are dangerous to health is for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour. On the question of the cover given by the Industrial Injuries Act my right hon. Friend is satisfied that poisoning by trichlorethylene at work is already adequately covered by the accident provisions of the industrial injuries scheme.

Dame Joan Vickers

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to look into this question again because, as he knows, I have taken up a case with him in regard to a decision where a person was not able to get any compensation after suffering from this type of poisoning?

Mr. Davies

Certainly I would look at anything which the hon. Lady asked me to look at again. The hon. Lady's constituent has already appealed to the medical appeal tribunal and I should like to wait for its decision before I give any answer in depth.