HC Deb 30 January 1990 vol 166 cc119-20W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends to extend the categories of repetitive strain injuries which are recognised by his Department as prescribed workplace injuries.

Mr. Scott

Once both of the studies on repetitive strain injury commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive from the universities of Edinburgh and of Birmingham are available, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council will consider whether the research evidence might justify further detailed consideration of occupational repetitive strain injuries.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice he has received on the types of industrial tasks which are most likely to result in workers suffering from repetitive strain injury; and in which industries there are likely to be significant numbers of sufferers.

Mr. Scott

A position paper adopted by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council in September 1986 identified repetitive strain injury as being complained of by word processor operators, assembly line workers and workers in the print, textile and furniture industries.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information he has on the incidence of repetitive strain injury in the pottery industry;

(2) what proportion of the known sufferers from repetitive strain injury are women.

Mr. Scott

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the trend of repetitive strain injury as measured by the number of claims for compensation.

Mr. Scott

Information on the number of prescribed diseases A4 and A8 diagnosed in connection with claims for industrial injuries benefits in 1985, 1986 and 1987 is provided on page 22 of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council periodic report—January 1990 (copies are available in the Library). For reasons of sample size, this information is unlikely to provide a reliable indication of trends.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which forms of repetitive strain injury are recognised by his Department as prescribed workplace injuries.

Mr. Scott

Two repetitive strain injuries are listed in the schedule of prescribed industrial diseasesPrescribed Disease A4: Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements. Prescribed Disease A8: Traumatic inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm or of the associated tendon sheaths. Benefit can also be paid for carpal syndrome if it occurs as a result of prescribed disease A8.