Back Pain (Report) (Hansard, 7 March 1978)

§ 15. Mr. Jessel
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet received the report of the Committee on Back Pain.

§ Mr. Moyle
No, Sir, but I understand that Professor Cochrane's working group intends to submit an interim report within the next few months.

§ Mr. Jessel
As back pain is known to cost the country about £1 million a day in sickness benefit, medical care and lost production, and as Professor Cochrane's working party has been sitting since 1976, will the Minister see what he can do to speed up matters? Will he also say what support he will give to the pioneering work of the Back Pain Association?

§ Mr. Moyle
It was because of the work of the Back Pain Association, amongst others, that we set up the working party, which has been sitting since the end of 1976. It is a subject which needs study in depth. It was because of the importance that we attached to the subject that the working party was created.

§ Mr. Heffer
Although undoubtedly this is a particularly serious Question, is my hon. Friend aware that some of us feel that many of the Questions coming from the Opposition are a pain elsewhere than in the neck?

§ Mr. Moyle
I shall bear that in mind when dealing with Questions other than the one raised by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel).