§ Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the subject of prescribed disease number 21—Leptospirosis; and what action he plans to take in this connection.
§ Mr. PrenticeA recent report from the industrial injuries advisory council has recommended changes in the terms in which leptospirosis is prescribed as an industrial disease for the purposes of industrial injury benefits. I am pleased to say that, having studied the report, the Government accept the council's recommendations, and arrangements are in hand for their implementation.
The terms of prescription of the disease will be widened to cover infection by all strains of the organism Leptospira, instead of two strains at present, and a wider range of occupations connected with animals. These changes will benefit a small number of workers who have until now fallen outside the terms of prescription of the disease.