HC Deb 19 April 1985 vol 77 c445 'In the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979—
  1. (a)in section 1—
    2. 446
  2. at the end of subsection (3) there shall be added the words "and any other disease which is specified by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Act by order made by statutory instrument"; and
  3. the following subsection shall be added. after subsection (4)—
(5) No order shall be made under this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."; and
  1. (b)in section 4(4)—
  1. the words "other than a disease specified in an order under section 1 above," shall be inserted after "applies," in paragraphs (a) and (b); and
  2. the following paragraphs shall be added after paragraph (b)—
  3. "(c) in the case of a person disabled by a disease specified in an order under section 1 above, means the date on which disablement benefit first became payable to him in respect of the disease or the date of the coming into force of the order, whichever is the later;
  4. (d) in the case of the dependant of a person who, immediately before he died, was disabled by a disease specified in an order under section 1 above, means the date of the deceased's death or the date of the coming into force of the order, whichever is the later.".'—[Mr.Peter Bottomley.)

Brought up, and read the First time.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Peter Bottomley)

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this it will be convenient to take Government amendments Nos. 139 and 107.

Mr. Bottomley

We seek to be able to extend by order, the list of diseases in the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979.

In March 1984 the Secretary of State for Social Services accepted a recommendation of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council that two additional asbestos-related diseases should be covered by the industrial injuries scheme.

We acknowledge that the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 should also be extended. The Act does not at present provide for adding to the list of diseases. The purpose of this amendment is to put that right.

The amendment will not itself add these two further diseases to the list given in the Act. It will enable the Secretary of State to extend the list by making an order under the Act after it has been laid in draft and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

I commend the new clause to the House.

Mrs. Beckett

We do indeed welcome the provision that the Government are making. It seems sensible to allow additions of this kind to be made as medical reactions change.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.

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