§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria are applied by his Department for those seeking disablement benefit for industrial deafness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottTo qualify for disablement benefit for occupational deafness a person must(a) have worked for at least 10 years in one or more of the occupations for which the disease is prescribed; (b) if no longer in a prescribed occupation, claim within five years of leaving that work; and (c) suffer sensorineural hearing loss of at least 50 decibels in each year, being due in the case of at least one ear to noise at work.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were awarded disablement benefit for industrial deafness in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. ScottThere were approximately 1,200 new awards of industrial injuries disablement benefit due to industrial deafness in the year to 1 April 1989, the latest period for which figures are available.