§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made towards implementing the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recommendations on occupational deafness and a revision of the schedule of prescribed diseases.
§ Mr. NewtonI am pleased to announce that regulations were laid today, to take effect on 3 October 1983. People using certain types of wood-working machines and chain saws will be able to claim benefit for occupational deafness, as will those working in the immediate vicinity of most prescribed processes. The minimum qualifying period of employment in a prescribed occupation will be reduced from 20 years to 10 years and the period since leaving such employment within which claims must be laid will be increased from one year to five years. Special transitional arrangements will allow claims to be accepted from people who last worked in a prescribed occupation in the five years preceding the date of IIAC's report—8 October 1982.
The regulations will also introduce a revised schedule of prescribed diseases. The terms of prescription of a number of the diseases will be clarified and extended, in line with recommendations by IIAC.