§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of exposure to toluene di-isocyanate 635W have been reported to his Department over the last five years; how many of these cases have resulted in permanent disablement; and how many of these cases have resulted in disablement benefit being paid.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that this information is not available. Poisoning by toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) is not a prescribed industrial disease, although individual cases of exposure to TDI have been accepted under the industrial accident provisions.
TDI is believed to cause a type of asthmatic reaction on some people. At the request of my right hon. Friend, the industrial injuries advisory council is currently considering whether, and if so in what terms, occupational asthma should be added to the list of prescribed diseases.
I am sure that the council would be pleased to receive from my hon. Friend any information he may have on the subject, and, if he has a particular case in mind I should be glad to look into it.