§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of staff of the X-ray department at the Southern general hospital have suffered health problems as a result of excessive chemical fumes arising out of the X-ray process.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis is a matter for the Greater Glasgow health board, but I understand from the hoard that following health screening, three members of staff were identified as having allergic sensitivity to the chemicals used in the X-ray processing.
§ Mr. SillarsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigations have been carried out to determine whether an excess of chemical fumes exists or existed in the X-ray department of the Southern general hospital; what were the findings; when they were made known to management; what recommendations were made; and what remedial action has been taken.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis is a matter for the Greater Glasgow health board, but I understand from the board that in May and December 1988 two reports on the emission of chemical fumes in X-ray departments were produced by the board's occupational health department and by the Health and Safety Executive respectively. On both occasions the concentrations in the atmosphere of the substances measured were found to be well within the current occupational exposure limits. As a result of its own investigations and the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive, a number of measures including better ventilation have been introduced by the health board to improve the working conditions in the departments concerned.