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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Donaghy (Labour) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 13 March 2012. It occurred during Debates on delegated legislation on Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.


Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

I speak as somebody who lost a stepfather and a sister-in-law to these diseases, but mainly I speak because I produced a report on fatalities in the construction industry for the previous Government. Although my remit was to look closely at fatalities on site, I also saw the figures for disease and the figures that the noble Lord mentioned. At that stage, I think there were something like 4,500 deaths a year from lung-related diseases. This is a silent killer of the most horrendous proportions. The noble Lord indicated the lack of future for so many. My concern is that the profile should be higher. What work is the Health and Safety Executive doing to improve that profile? Is any more research being done? I know that technically I am probably out of order on these regulations but, as the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, said, this is extremely important. Silicosis is going to come up further down the track. Every worker you see in London carving up the corner of a pavement and not using a water spray or wearing a mask over his face may well be dead in 15 years' time. It does not take as long—it does not take 40 years. We could do an awful lot more. I know that these regulations are about people who have already contracted these fatal diseases, but we should try to raise their profile and to do more to prevent them because some of these killers are still there. It not a question of them peaking in 2016. Some other industrial diseases are coming along, and I do not believe that sufficient work is being done on them. I have a question, and I understand if the Minister does not have the answer immediately. Could some inquiries be made about what work is being done by the Health and Safety Executive and about what can be done to improve these diseases' profile and their prevention?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
736 c25-6GC 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Compensation Costs Dependants Asbestos Legal profession Fees and charges Liability Health and safety Insurance Industrial diseases Payments Publicity Lump sum payments Quarrying Mesothelioma Pneumoconiosis Training
Legislation
Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk