HC Deb 01 May 1986 vol 96 cc465-6W
Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed industrial injury benefit for repetitive strain injury in 1985; and what where their geographical locations.

Mr. Newton

Two forms of repetive strain injury are prescribed as industrial diseases. These are cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements (prescribed disease A4) and tenosynovitis (prescribed disease A8). In the year ending September 1985 awards of benefit under the industrial injuries scheme in respect of these two conditions were made as follows:

Prescribed Disease A4 Prescribed Disease A8
North Eastern Region 116
London North Region 25
London South Region 18
Midlands Region 103
North-Western Region 2 77
Wales and South Western Region 1 38
Scotland 13
Total 3 390

Information on the number of unsuccessful claims made is not available.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to publicise among general practitioners and the general public the risks of repetitive strain injury.

Mr. Newton

No. The causes of repetitive strain injury are not always easy to identify, but it can be associated with work activities. The Health and Safety Executive has a number of initiatives concerned with this problem.

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