Industrial disease scheme is too narrow, argues TUC

The TUC is using a government consultation to argue for the widening of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme.

Introduced almost 60 years ago, IIDB is currently payable to people with any of about 80 prescribed diseases in 67 categories - mainly those associated with heavy industries like shipbuilding, engineering and mining. Most claimants are men.

Although the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council regularly reviews the diseases that are prescribed under the regulations, at present the scheme offers no compensation to the vast majority of people with occupational diseases, as conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders and stress are excluded.

In January, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launched a review of the scheme. The TUC's response has been to call for the establishment of a social fund, which employers would pay into, to fund an extension of the scheme.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme - a consultation paper can be downloaded from www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2007/IIDB.pdf. The deadline for responses is 22 April.