asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will amend the Social Security Industrial Injuries (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations to cover persons who have been employed in the glass industry and who suffer from occupational deafness;(2) if he will invite the standing working group of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to investigate the extent of industrial deafness in the glass industry.

The Government are advised on the prescription of industrial diseases by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, whose standing working group is keeping the occupational deafness provisions under review. We have drawn the council's attention to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received any representations from employers' organisations to extend the scope of the Social Security Industrial Injuries (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations to cover workers suffering from occupational deafness, in industries and occupations other than those currently listed in the regulations.

We have received no representations to this effect from employers' organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received any representations from trade unions to extend the scope of the Social Security Industrial Injuries (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations to cover workers suffering from occupational deafness in industries and occupations other than those currently listed in the regulations.

We have received a number of representations from trade unions. Their views have been passed to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council which is keeping the occupational deafness provisions under review.