§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether lung cancer should be classified as a prescribed industrial disease498W in cases where significant asbestos-related work history is combined with unprotected exposure to asbestos dust; [104778]
(2) what advice he has received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the relationship between lung cancer and significant asbestos exposure in the absence of asbestosis; [104779]
(3) what reports he has received on the reliability and sensitivity of CT scans and Chest X-rays in indicating the presence of asbestos-related disease. [104826]
§ Mr. BayleyThe Industrial Injuries Advisory Council provide us with independent expert advice on the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. In their report "Asbestos Related Diseases" (Cm 3467 published in November 1996) the Council investigated thoroughly the prescription of asbestos-related diseases, including the relationship between lung cancer and asbestos exposure, and whether CT scans would be appropriate within this benefit scheme. The Council recommended certain changes that were beneficial to claimants, which were brought into effect from April 1997. The Council continues to carefully monitor research, studies, publications and scientific developments in relation to asbestos-related lung disease, as they do for the other prescribed diseases. The Council have made no recommendations to me about asbestos-related diseases since 1996, and we are confident that the Council would re-examine any issue if new scientific evidence emerged. They would then make recommendations, which we would consider carefully.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what support his Department offers to victims of(a) pneumoconiosis and (b) an asbestos-related disease. [104828]
§ Mr. BayleyThe Department provides financial support through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, which gives no-fault compensation for disablement resulting from work as an employed earner, either as a result of an accident at work or through contracting certain prescribed occupational diseases. Pneumoconiosis (including asbestosis) and three other asbestos-related diseases are prescribed for this purpose. Other Social Security benefits, as appropriate in individual cases, would also be available depending on the person's circumstances.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to improve the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases, especially in areas with a high prevalence of such disease. [104827]
§ Mr. BayleyWe do not propose to change the method of diagnosis of asbestos-related disease for the purposes of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. Diagnosis methods are the same throughout Great Britain, and we are advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on appropriate criteria.