HC Deb 19 March 1986 vol 94 cc227-8W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for each year including 1986 since the introduction of the occupational asthma scheme (a) how many occupational asthma claims were made and (b) how many were successful.

Mr. Newton

The information is as follows. Figures for 1986 are not yet available.

Year Claims made Claims successful
1982 439 95
1983 439 183
1984 604 137
1985 538 166
2,020 581

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, out of all the successful claims since the beginning of the occupational asthma scheme, to date, how many were in (a) the isocyanates group, (b) the platinum salts group, (c) the acid anhydride and amine hardening agents group, (d) the group involving fumes arising from the use of resin as a soldering flux, (e) the proteolytic enzyme group, (f) the animals or insects group and (g) the group associated with dusts arising from barley, oats, rye, wheat or maize or meal or flour made from such grain.

Mr. Newton

The following table shows the numbers of successful claims from occupational asthma in respect of each of the seven listed agents between 29 March 1982, when occupational asthma was prescribed, and 31 December 1985, the latest date for which information is available:

Claims
(a) Isocyanates 210
(b) Platinum salts 25
(c) Hardening agents 50
(d) Soldering flux 97
(e) Proteolytic enzymes 14
(f) Animals/Insects 26
(g) Flour/Grain 159
Total 581

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, out of the total number of successful claims for occupational asthma since the introduction of the occupational asthma scheme, how many cases were awarded 15 per cent. disablement or below.

Mr. Newton

Of the 581 successful claims since the introduction of the occupational asthma scheme, 439 were assessed at 15 per cent. or below.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many countries within the EEC officially recognise occupational asthma as an industrial disease; which countries they are; and in what years they introduced their respective schemes.

Mr. Newton

Information derived from the International Labour Office and European Community reports indicates that the following countries provide benefits for occupational asthma. (In some cases the disease is not cited explicitly in the national legislation but the risk is covered).

  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Spain

In 1982 the United Kingdom recognised occupational asthma as an industrial disease.

We have no information on the dates when cover was introduced by other member States nor do we have any information on whether or not Ireland or Italy recognise occupational asthma as an industrial disease.