Ethylene Oxide Mr. Ernie Ross asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to introduce stricter safety standards regarding exposure to ethylene oxide in working conditions; and if he will study the work of the United States of America Occupational Safety and Health Administration on exposure to ethylene oxide. Mr. Waddington The Health and Safety Commission's advisory committee on toxic substances has recently reviewed the relevant data on ethylene oxide and has recommended the establishment of a stricter control limit for exposure to ethylene oxide vapour of 5 parts per million in air, 8-hour time-weighted average. This represents a 10-fold improvement over the currently published advice. The recommendation is to be considered by the Health and Safety Commission shortly.----------- | | ----------- |May | ----------- |June | ----------- |July | ----------- |August | ----------- |September| ----------- |October | ----------- |November | ----------- |December | ----------- |January | ----------- |February | ----------- |March | ----------- |April | ----------- Mr. Ashley asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number and percentage increase over the last year for (a) registered disabled people, (b) unregistered disabled people and (c) the total United Kingdom work force. Mr. Alison The number of people registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 in Great Britain decreased by 12,919 (2·8 per cent.), from 460,178 to 447,259 during the 12 months ended April 1982, the latest date available. There is no comparable information available in respect of unregistered disabled people. The total United Kingdom work force decreased by 291,000 (1·1 per cent.) from 26,263,000 to 25,972,000 during the 12 months ended December 1981, the latest date available.