HC Deb 24 February 1983 vol 37 cc512-3W
Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many industrial injuries have arisen from exposure to dangerous levels of noise in the United Kingdom and in other member states of the European Community during each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr. Rossi

The following table shows the number of cases recorded in the United Kingdom in which the prescribed industrial disease occupational deafness was diagnosed.

Year Number of cases
1978 570
1979 432
1980 1,064
1981 842
1982 624

Information about other member states of the European Community is not held by the Department.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mobile units are available within the National Health Service for the purposes of industrial audiometric surveillance.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I know of none. Arrangements for monitoring of the health of employees are the responsibility of their employers.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many claims have been made since 1974 for compensation for industrial injuries arising from exposure to dangerous levels of noise at work; and what is the number of such claims that have been successful;

(2) if he will estimate the total cost to industry of claims made since 1974 for compensation for industrial injuries arising from exposure to dangerous levels of noise at work.

Mr. Rossi

Since 1974, when occupational deafness was prescribed as a disease under the industrial injuries scheme, 30,686 claims for benefit have been recorded; 6,547 claims succeeded. It is estimated that industrial disablement benefit totalling £22 million has been paid; this is a charge on the national insurance funds.