§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to bring forward proposals to amend the rules regarding occupational deafness so as to include more workers within their scope.
§ Mr. PrenticeYes. Draft regulations have been referred recently to the industrial injuries advisory council for consideration and advice in accordance with section 141(2) of the Social Security Act 1975, following which they will be laid before Parliament. The regulations give effect to the recommendations contained in the council's 1978 report on occupational deafness—Cmnd. 7266. In particular, the regulations extend the coverage of the occupational deafness scheme to 253W include workers who supervise or assist in the use of pneumatic percussive tools and who use them on metal or for drilling rock or coal; those who work in textile weaving sheds or on texturing machines; workers engaged in certain aspects of nail manufacture; and those who use plasma guns for the deposition of metal.