To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive to reduce the number of working days lost due to back pain.

I am informed that the Health and Safety Executive is working actively with industry and others to reduce the number of working days lost due to back pain. New regulations on manual handling of loads and the use of display screen equipment and the executive's current "Lighten the Load" campaign will all help to focus the attention of industry on the need to reduce the incidence of back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders and promote their prevention.