◆ SpookStack

wee ‘ eral | ‘ Private Business 2051 HOUSE OF COMMONS me Monday, 13th February 1986 - - The House mer ‘at half-past” “¢ _ THO. eelock, Seether PRAYERS ais are Mr. SPEAKER / in the Chair “+ ot + PRIVATE BUSINESS * = BriTiSH TRANSPORT COMMISSION (No. 2) . Second Re eading deferred till Thursday. TB UC ere bees & Sased ee, Croypon Corporation BILt (By Order) Lreps Corporation Bit (By Order) - MANCHESTER SHIP Cana Birt (By Order) Second Reading deferred till Monday next. - “ora ANSWERS To" QUESTIONS 7 "" PENSIONS AND NATIONAL” vs INSURANCE sig. of toe ‘ or r “ Earnings , “A Mr. E. Fletcher asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will arrange for the earnings exemption limit for pensioners 1o be raised from £2 to £2 10s. a week... ee es, + 3. Mr, Gower ssked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will pow take steps to permit old-age pensioners to earn £3 per week instead of £2 per week as heretofore. -~~ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter) : J have sothing to add to the reply which I gave on 6th February to the hon. and allant Members for Brixton (Lieut-. Jonel Lipton} and Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther-Gray).’ mre eee ‘. Mr. Fletcher: Would the Minister not agree that this limit ts now unduly low and that at penalises thrift, creates great hardship and ought to be increased? -=- oe pen Mr, ‘Boya-Carpenter s 1 think the bon. Member will agree that having asked the advice of the Advisory Committee, having pee a secured that Committee's willingness to 23 eget te ee - pea a eT, ange re + ita. ia ee eee ee - 13 FEBRUARY 1956 eek Meta ea ee ee Oral Answers obtained | an impression, both speeches in the House expressed ouiside, that many peopie would like to see this matter dealt with with great urgency? Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Yes. 1 am sure that this is a matter which commends itself toa Breat many people, aire are . "Prescribed Diseases (Welding _ . ate ae Hazards) a oe nA 2 Dr. Stross, asked the Minister of Pensions and Nationa) Insurance how many cases of metal fume fever among welders have been brought to his notice ; and whether he will schedule Jun hazards due to welding as a prescribed isease. St). "Mr, Boyd-Carpenter : The answer “wo the first part of the Question is “ None, Sir.” As to the second, J am not aware of any lung hazards due to welding not already covered by the Act which would satisfy the statutory conditions for pre-. oe oa de ee ee ro) cription.. - Dr. Stross: If the Minister receives in- formation and evidence that there is geri- ous risk that some forms of welding do cause fibrosis of the anes. will he cop: sider taking action? , tebe nok; vv * Mr. Boyd-Carpenter : As 1 think ‘the “282-2 give the matter priority, it would be very wrong for me to comment. eomet * tr. Gower: Has my. “right hon. “Friend from and views ----. Famer : hon. Member appreciates, if fibrosis of ~~ the lungs results from the process of welding, s claim can already be put in under the existing law in respect of pneu moconiosis. That is why in my answer I... referred, perhaps obliquely, to the fact that risks which welders run are already covered i in a number of directions. =: A, 4D. Stross asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware of the industrial hazards that may be associated with the | rocess of welding; and whether be will institute Tesearca into these hazards, "and particu- farly into the composition of the € ectrode coatings. ~e PP ie ee cr Mr. Boyd-Corpenter : Yes, Sit, But oo this matter is being given attention by my fight bon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service's Factory Inspectorate, I do not think that I should - at present be justified in duplicating the - research work being done. mon teat ne 2 ad Bins ese ee “Men Re