Health: Pneumoconiosis

Debate between Lord Morgan and Lord Freud

Wednesday 29th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

As noble Lords may imagine, when I was asked this Question I tried to get more fine detail, but it simply is not available. There is a division between those suffering from mesothelioma and those suffering from other diseases; that is the only breakdown that we have. I cannot provide the information that the noble Lord requested.

[Lord Morgan]

My Lords, perhaps in common with other noble Lords I have members of my family who worked in the slate quarries and died as a result of their employment. When the Act was passed by the Callaghan Government in 1979, Members of the Commons were assured that there would be an equality of authority for workers in the slate quarrying industry—a small, fragmented, rural industry—and those in more powerful and numerous groups working in, let us say, the coal-mining and textile industries. In view of the figures given by the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, can we be sure that those assurances have been met?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, the 1979 and 2008 Acts were drawn very precisely to cover certain diseases. I am sure that noble Lords know that these range from asbestosis through mesothelioma, relevant silicosis and other illnesses contracted from cotton, clay, and so forth. The Acts that cover these diseases are very precise. Other industrial diseases are covered by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, and industrial benefits are based on those diseases.

Remploy

Debate between Lord Morgan and Lord Freud

Wednesday 5th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, clearly, that is a mixed question from my noble friend. I will look very closely at the optimal way of getting disabled people to take a full part in the economy of this country. I will certainly look very hard at that issue.

[Lord Morgan]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Freud]

Yes, my Lords, I have the up-to-date data for the voluntary redundancy programme which took place in 2008. Of the people who chose to look for re-employment, there was a 90 per cent success rate in getting them jobs.

[Lord Morgan]

My Lords, we have been considering this properly from the point of view of the workers in Remploy. The other side, of course, is the advantages to business and productive industry. I have in mind industries, particularly printing and the industries connected with publishing, where Remploy workers have unique skills. Should we not seek to retain them?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, that is precisely the point. Where there is a viable business proposition we would expect social enterprise or other forms of enterprise to pick up those units, make them viable and keep them viable into the long term on a sustainable basis.