asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will amend the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Amendment Regulations 1974 (S.I., 1974/1414) to enable disablement benefit to be payable for occupational deafness caused by constant exposure to wool textile processes.

We have the problems of occupational deafness very much in mind, and my right hon. Friend proposes to ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to review the operation of the relevant provisions to date and to identify the processes where the noise levels are nearest in severity to those already covered with a view to extending categories as and when financial and other resources become available.