§ Mr Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have been off work for three or more days because of back injury for 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.
§ Mr. MayhewInformation in the exact form requested is not available. The estimated number of reported injuries to the trunk—including back, neck and shoulder—which resulted in more than three days' absence was 66,000 in 1975 69,800 in 1976 and 72,500 in 1977.
Fully comparable figures for 1978 are not available. However, there were some 65,000 reported injuries to the neck, back 351W and trunk resulting in more than three days' absence, of which 49,000 were injuries to the back. These figures cover all injuries reported to the Factory Inspectorate, including some reportable under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act and some not compulsorily reportable at all. Figures for 1979 were not available.