§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details, including dates, duration and numbers attending, of all specialist training courses held since January 1994 on the industrial disease mucous membrane PD4 for experienced medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services Section which has responsibility for Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.
§ Mr. HagueAll the doctors employed by the Benefits Agency medical services and the doctors who act as independent adjudicating medical practitioners assessing disablement benefit have had access to an up-to-date paper on prescribed disease D4—inflammation or ulceration of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory passages or mouth produced by dust, liquid or vapour—prepared by a senior medical adviser of the Department of Social Security in January 1995.
In addition, two full-time medical advisers from the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear areas attended a one day international symposium on PD D4 on 20 June 1994.