§ Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he has taken to implement the recommendation of the Beney Committee in 1955 that he should appoint a small body of highly specialised staff to carry out investigations for the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council as to the possibilities of adding to the schedule of diseases prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act.
§ Mr. SharplesThe recommendation to which the hon. Member refers was discussed by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, together with the Beney Committee's other recommendations relating82W to the Council's work. The Council suggested that a practicable way of meeting the Beney Committee's concern that suggestions for prescription and research should be encouraged, would be for the Council to examine periodically the various possibilities so that they might submit to the Minister such recommendations on prescription or on research as they thought appropriate.
My right hon. Friend accepted the Council's recommendation, and since 1956 these duties, to which he attaches the greatest value, have formed a most important part of its work.