Rubber Tyre Industry (Hansard, 12 March 1980)

§ Mr. Buchan
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what research the Health and Safety Executive has commissioned into the cancer causing constituents of dust and fumes in rubber tyre curing processes; and what were the findings.

§ Mr. Mayhew
The Health and Safety Executive is conducting a research project entitled "Identification of potential carcinogens in the rubber industry", which covers the rubber tyre curing processes, but is not restricted to it. Results are expected to start becoming available this year.

§ Mr. Buchan
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the estimated number of deaths from cancer of the bladder, lungs, and stomach which occurs each year among former workers who were exposed to dust and fumes in the rubber tyre industry.

§ Mr. Mayhew
I regret that figures are not available in the form requested. However, a report entitled "Mortality in the British Rubber Industries 1967–76", which the Health and Safety Executive expects to publish shortly, will contain

November 1977 November 1979

SIC Order Employees in Employment^* Unemployed Employees in Employment^* Unemployed†

III Food, drink and tobacco 691,000 41,679 682,000 40,481

IV Coal and petroleum products 36,000 2,226 35,000 2,083

V Chemicals and allied industries 436,000 16,510 438,000 15,677

VI Metal manufacture 484,000 23,708 443,000 24,394

VII Mechanical engineering 925,000 39,509 885,000 36,972

VIII Instrument engineering 149,000 4,387 146,000 4,013

IX Electrical engineering 752,000 27,963 743,000 25,540

X Shipbuilding and marine engineering 175,000 9,329 159,000 10,675

XI Vehicles 750,000 21,154 742,000 19,196

XII Metal goods not elsewhere specified 537,000 34,222 524,000 32,150

XIII Textiles 471,000 27,166 434,000 25,584

XIV Leather, leather goods and fur 40,000 3,163 37,000 2,932

XV Clothing and footwear 368,000 22,568 362,000 21,013

XVI Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 260,000 12,261 252,000 11,014

XVII Timber, furniture, etc. 256,000 14,255 254,000 11,871

XVIII Paper, printing and publishing 532,000 18,565 536,000 16,573

XIX Other manufacturing industries 324,000 18,707 313,000 17,775

^* Provisional figures.

† The unemployment figures for November 1979 are not strictly comparable with those for November 1977 because of the introduction, in September 1979, of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. This had the effect of raising the monthly figures for all unemployed in Great Britain by about 20,000. Estimates by industry are not available.

	November 1977	November 1979
SIC Order	Employees in Employment^*	Unemployed	Employees in Employment^*	Unemployed†
III Food, drink and tobacco	691,000	41,679	682,000	40,481
IV Coal and petroleum products	36,000	2,226	35,000	2,083
V Chemicals and allied industries	436,000	16,510	438,000	15,677
VI Metal manufacture	484,000	23,708	443,000	24,394
VII Mechanical engineering	925,000	39,509	885,000	36,972
VIII Instrument engineering	149,000	4,387	146,000	4,013
IX Electrical engineering	752,000	27,963	743,000	25,540
X Shipbuilding and marine engineering	175,000	9,329	159,000	10,675
XI Vehicles	750,000	21,154	742,000	19,196
XII Metal goods not elsewhere specified	537,000	34,222	524,000	32,150
XIII Textiles	471,000	27,166	434,000	25,584
XIV Leather, leather goods and fur	40,000	3,163	37,000	2,932
XV Clothing and footwear	368,000	22,568	362,000	21,013
XVI Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc.	260,000	12,261	252,000	11,014
XVII Timber, furniture, etc.	256,000	14,255	254,000	11,871
XVIII Paper, printing and publishing	532,000	18,565	536,000	16,573
XIX Other manufacturing industries	324,000	18,707	313,000	17,775
^* Provisional figures.
† The unemployment figures for November 1979 are not strictly comparable with those for November 1977 because of the introduction, in September 1979, of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. This had the effect of raising the monthly figures for all unemployed in Great Britain by about 20,000. Estimates by industry are not available.