To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on present policy towards compensation for repetitive strain injury; and what changes are being considered.

Two forms of upper limb disorder caused by repetitive movements are included in the list of prescribed diseases allowing entitlement to industrial injuries benefits:

Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements—in any occupation involving prolonged periods of handwriting, typing or other repetitive movements of the fingers, hand or arm.

Traumatic inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm, or the associated tendon sheaths—in any occupation involving manual labour, or frequent or repeated movements of the hand or wrist.

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, who advise the Secretary of State on matters relating to the industrial injuries scheme, announced on 5 June a study to review all new evidence which has become available since 1986 on the occupational causation of upper limb disorders.