§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether asthma caused by exposure to substances encountered at work should be prescribed as an industrial disease.
§ Mr. OrmeAs part of its continuing review of the schedule of prescribed industrial diseases, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has asked my right hon. Friend to refer to it the question of occupational asthma. The council has now been asked for its advice on
200Wwhether there is any condition resulting from exposure at work to industrial asthma-inducinghealth district in each of the following years: 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985;
(2) what are the figures, actual or estimated, for (a) population and (b) hospital beds in the Maidstone health district in each of the following years: 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985.
§ Mr. MoyleI regret that figures for 1970, 1980 and 1985 are not readily available. The nearest available statistics are:
agents which should be prescribed under Section 76(2) of the Social Security Act 1975 and, if so, what are the substances and occupations that should be covered, and should there be a presumption as to particular cases being due to the nature of the occupation.