§ 5. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made an estimate of the likely annual claims to his Department as a result of brucellosis being scheduled as an industrial disease.
§ Mr. DeanNo, Sir. There is no sound basis on which such an estimate could be made. The incidence of the disease was looked into by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State referred the question whether the disease should be prescribed. In its report the Council said that estimates of the number of persons affected by the disease vary widely, there being no comprehensive information about its prevalence.
§ Mr. EadieIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the decision to make brucellosis a scheduled industrial disease is very welcome? I am sure he will agree that the National Union of Agricultural Workers and the TUC must take great credit for the evidence they submitted to the Advisory Council. Will he assure the House that there will be proper diagnostic procedures for trying to diagnose the disease amongst people who think they are suffering from it?
§ Mr. DeanI will gladly look into that matter. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the tribute he paid to all those who have made this possible. The new arrangements will come into effect at the end of this month.