32. Mr. Wileyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the disease suffered by shipyard workers and known as welder's lung.
§ Mr. PentlandI assume that my right hon. Friend has in mind welder's side 1026 rosis or iron-oxide lung. This is a benign condition which causes neither symptoms nor disability. Toxic fumes or dust which may arise in the welding process may occasionally cause disablement. Such cases are already covered either by the accident provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act or in the existing schedule of prescribed diseases.
§ Mr. WilleyI am obliged to my hon. Friend for his reply and for the pains he has taken over this inquiry. Is he aware that we have recently been very disturbed in the shipyards at the incidence of this disease? That being so, will he see that closer attention is paid to it, so that the cause can be diagnosed more carefully? This disease has caused very serious disturbance on both sides of the shipbuilding industry.
§ Mr. PentlandI am well aware of that, and I am also aware of the individual case in my right hon. Friend's constituency. If he will allow me to, I will write to him about the case, and deal with the various aspects.