§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that those entitled to claim disablement benefit under regulation 13 of the Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1986 do so before it is too late;
(2) when he decided to repeal regulation 13 of the Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1986; on what date that decision was made public; and on what date it will be implemented;
(3) whether he will amend the industrial injuries regulations to preserve the right of persons suffering from vibration white finger and other industrial diseases to claim disablement benefit where the onset of the disease occurred before 1 October 1986 and the person concerned was unable to make an earlier claim because of a justifiable lack of appropriate knowledge.
§ Mr. ScottA decision in principle to repeal this regulation was made in December 1988. The amending regulation was laid before Parliament on 11 October 1989 and was to come into force on 1 November 1989. A second amending regulation, deleting this amendment, was laid and came into force on 1 October 1989. I took this action to allow time for further consideration of the matter. My final decision will take into account the representations I have received. Meanwhile, it is open to those who wish to do so to claim under regulation 13 of the 1986 regulations.