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Pri vate Business _ Monday, 13th Februar, 1986 The House met ‘at half; past’ . . Two, o'clock. 5 , war PRAYERS *) 8° > [Mr. Sreaker in the Chair] ~~ a wer 3° PRIVATE BUSINESS". *. BaritisH TRaxsport COMMISSION Wo. 2) o Buz (By Order)- .. 0 + Second Reading deferred till Thursday. Croypon Corporation Brit (By Order) Lreps Corporation BIL (By Order) MANCHESTER SHIP Canat Butt (By Order) Second Reading deferred till Monday next, = “ORAL ANSWERS To" - QUESTIONS PENSIONS AND NATIONAL INSURANCE . Earnings “1 Me. E. Fletcher asked’ the Mi of Pensions and National Insurance if he will arrange for the earnings exemption limit for pensioners to be raised from £2 to £2 10s. a jock. + 22. Mr. Gower as! et the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now 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 Bord-Carpenter)# i have pothing to add to the reply which 3 ave on 6th February to the hon. and allant Members for Brixton (Lieut-. ei Jonel Lipton) and Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther -Gray) 4. Mr, Fletcher: Would the Minister not agree that this limit és now unduly low and that 4t penalises thrift, creates great hardship and ought to be increased? > ate. ‘Boyd-Carpenter : I think’ the bon. Member will agree that having asked the advice of the Advisory Committee, having secured that Committee's willingness to aca Bus Lag too wey = 2 priya eral BOR ae 13 FEBRUARY 1956 Oral Answers 2082 - > give the matier priority, it would be very wrong for me to comment. <= * Mr. Gower: Has my, right ton. Friend obtained an impression, both from speeches in the House and views” expressed outside, thai many people would like to see this matter dealt with with great urgency? _ 2. + neem nag Mr. Boyd-Carpenter : Yes, Jam sure that this is a matter which ‘commends ftself to a great many People. | . Prescribed Discases (Welding _ ;. ory ve én, Hazards) gy ey ca 2 Dr. Stross asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many cases of metal fume fever among welders have been brought to his notice; and whether he will schedule Jung hazards due to welding as a prescribed isease. * Mr, Boy 4-Carpenter: The answer to the first part of the Question is “ None, Sir.” As to the second, I am not aware of any lung hazards due to welding not already covered by the Act which would satisfy the statutory conditions for Pre, cription.. « . formation and evidence that there is seri- ous risk that some forms of welding do cause fibrosis of the lungs, will he con- sider taking action? ‘ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter s Asi this hon. Member appreciates, if fibrosis oI 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 1 referred, perha obliquely, to the fact that risks which welders run are already covered in a number of directions. so. 4. Dr. Stross asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware of the industrial hazards that may be associated with the process of welding; and whether be will institute _ Fesearch into these hazards,’and particu- Jarly into the composition of the e jectrode coatings. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Yes, Sir, But as this matter is being given attention by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service's Factory Tnspectorate, I do not think that 1 should at present be justified in duplicating the : research work being done. - - wa 22K