§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why back pain and back injury are not included as a prescribed disease in the industrial injury provision of the Social Services Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonIn its review of the schedule of prescribed industrial diseases (Cmnd. 8393) the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council concluded that prescription would not be appropriate for back pain since this was a symptom rather than a specific clinical condition or an effect of exposure to certain substances. Claims in respect of back pain and back injury may, however, be successful under the accident provisions of the industrial injuries scheme.