HC Deb 14 July 1978 vol 953 cc821-2W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now vary the rule that an employee must have been in the occupation for 20 years before he can claim benefit for loss of hearing, following the note of dissent by Mr. S. J. Stanbrook in the report on "Occupational Deafness", Command Paper No. 7266;

(2) when he proposes to implement the decisions contained in the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council contained in Command Paper No. 7266, entitled "Occupational Deafness".

Mr. Orme

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 111th July.

The Government are considering the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the subject of occupational deafness (Cmnd. 7266). All aspects of the Council's report are being studied urgently with a view to the possibility of extending the occupational deafness scheme.