HC Deb 09 February 1967 vol 740 cc349-50W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the progress made by Government research establishments, showing each of the last five years, in ascertaining, isolating and curing the diseases peculiar to fishermen at sea and on shore and indicate the nature and number of such diseases during each of the last five years.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

The following projects have been, or are currently being, undertaken with support from official sourcesA study in the Department of Social Medicine at the University of Aberdeen of causes of death among a group of trawlermen. A survey by workers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the incidence of Dogger Bank Itch among Lowestoft trawlermen. An investigation into the chemical sensitising agent in the seaweed-like organism that causes Dogger Bank Itch being undertaken as part of the programme of the Medical Research Council's Research Group on Immunological Aspects of Dermatology.

Since no information about the incidence of diseases peculiar to fishermen is collected as a routine procedure, I regret I am unable to provide information about their number and nature.