§ Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she has received the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on viral hepatitis; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyYes. The council's report, published today (Cmnd. 6257), recommends the prescription of viral hepatitis as an industrial disease. My right hon. Friend has accepted the council's recommendations, and regulations will shortly be introduced to prescribe the disease for people in occupations involving: (a) close and frequent contact with 665W human blood or human blood products; or (b) close and frequent contact with a source of viral hepatitis infection by reason of employment in the medical treatment or nursing of a person or persons suffering from viral hepatitis or in a service ancillary to such treatment or nursing.
Cover under the industrial accident provisions of the Social Security Act is already available for those who contract viral hepatitis in the course of employed earners' employment and this cover will continue to be available for those employed earners who do not qualify for benefit under the new disease provisions.