Written question asked by Joan Walley (Labour) on Thursday, 4 November 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 November 1999. It was answered by Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 1999 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will establish a vibration white finger test centre in North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish a vibration white finger test centre in North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [97800] Mrs. Liddell: There are currently seven centres in operation, including a centre in Barnsley which opened this week, and we expect a total of twelve centres to be up and running during January 2000. The locations for this initial tranche of centres were determined by balancing the geographic distribution of claimants against the availability of the medical resource needed to undertake the testing. We are assessing the options for opening further centres early next year. I recognise the very strong claims for a centre to serve the North Staffordshire miners, and would certainly hope that we will be able to open a centre in the North Staffordshire area early next year.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 97800; 337 c727W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Industrial diseases Medical examinations Testing Staffordshire Hand arm vibration syndrome