§ Sir H. Studholmeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she has reached a decision on the prescription of farmer's lung as an industrial disease for the purposes of benefit under the industrial injuries scheme; and it she will make a statement.
§ Miss HerbisonYes. I have recently received the further advice of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the wording of the occupational cover for farmer's lung. The Council considers that the cover which it originally recommended in its report on farmer's lung (Cmnd. 2403) should be defined with a greater degree of precision. I have accepted the Council's advice, and I have decided that farmer's lung should be prescribed in relation to: any occupation involving exposure to the dust of mouldy hay or other mouldy vegetable produce by reason of employment (a) in agriculture, horticulture or forestry; or (b) loading or unloading or handling in storage such hay or other vegetable produce; or (c) handling bagasse. Both the Council and I are satisfied that this cover is sufficiently comprehensive in the present state of knowledge about the disease.
Regulations. (The National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) 128W Amendment Regulations 1965), prescribing farmer's lung have been laid before the House today, and will come into operation on 21st June.