Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) training and (b) support has been introduced to help (i) GPs and (ii) other clinicians to (A) identify and (B) diagnose cancers associated with welding fume at an earlier stage since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The training curriculum for postgraduate trainee general practitioners (GPs) is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners and has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council. Additionally, GPs are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including on cancer, remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.
NHS England funds delivery of GatewayC, the leading online early cancer diagnosis e-training resource for GPs and primary care staff. Where relevant, e-learning courses contain a risk factors section, and in the current update of the existing Lung Cancer course, GatewayC has added welding fumes to the risk factor card on 'chemicals and workplace risk'. From the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance, the increased risk is primarily for lung cancer, but there is also some evidence of an increased risk of kidney cancer. The upcoming Urological Cancers course doesn't directly refer to this but has a cover-all statement on workplace risk, stating: 'exposure to certain chemicals at work may increase the risk of bladder and kidney cancer'.
NHS England has also significantly expanded the Lung Cancer Screening Programme, formerly known as the Targeted Lung Health Check. The programme currently operates across more than a quarter of England, prioritising areas with the highest lung cancer mortality and levels of deprivation. Mobile scanning units in community settings, such as supermarket car parks, have helped to improve access and uptake. The programme is on track to offer screening nationally by 2029, with a target to invite at least 50% of the eligible population by March 2026.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to ensure employers provide the correct PPE for workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect data on the numbers of people directly or indirectly exposed to welding fume.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will estimate the number of workers exposed (a) directly and (b) indirectly to welding fume since it was categorised as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect data on the numbers of people directly or indirectly exposed to welding fume.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to help ensure standardisation across all industrial sectors for protective equipment for workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) which specifies RPE types, filters and standards to be used at work, Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide HSG53
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require that businesses risk assess exposure to hazardous substances like welding fume and ensure that appropriate RPE is selected, where required.
Industry sectors and businesses may have different RPE requirements, depending on the type of welding and the work environment.
To assist them in their selection the COSHH Essentials Welding Sheet WL3 gives welders guidance on the appropriate types of mask and grade of filters, suitable for welding, Welding fume control (hse.gov.uk).
HSE conducts regular inspection campaigns targeting the industries where welding is prevalent. Part of the inspection is to check that welders have the appropriate RPE where required.
HSE works with industry stakeholders to promote the guidance and improve safety in welding.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it his policy to collect data on the number of workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume who have received diagnosis of (i) nasal, (ii) septum, (iii) throat, (iv) stomach, (v) bowel, (vi) kidney, (vii) liver, (viii) lung and (ix) bladder cancer.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for collection of data of workplace injury and illness. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provides the national reporting framework for responsible persons (usually employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises) to report certain cases of injury, diseases and specified dangerous occurrences to the relevant Enforcing Authority (HSE or Local Authority). Regulation 9 of RIDDOR requires the responsible person to report a diagnosis of any cancer attributed to an occupational exposure to a known human carcinogen in their current job.
When reporting, the responsible person must provide details on the affected person's occupation or job title and a description of the work that led to the disease. This would capture whether the person is a welder and/or carries out welding as part of their job. There is also the option to report the specific type of cancer being diagnosed.
HSE also collects data on occupational cancers through the Health and Occupational Reporting (THOR) network. This includes:
Where available, occupational information such as job title may be recorded, potentially identifying welders.
However, welders may also be exposed to other carcinogens, such as asbestos, during their work so it is difficult to directly link a diagnosis of cancer specifically to exposure to welding fumes.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria is being used to assess the impact of (a) bingo clubs and (b) adult gaming centres on local communities.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government uses various data sources to assess policies and impacts. This includes data provided by the Gambling Commission and the industry, a range of research findings, and feedback from a wide range of stakeholders.
The Government recognises the contributions that bingo clubs and adult gaming centres make to local communities such as seaside towns, including providing local employment and spaces where people can have fun and socialise. We will continue to work with the land-based gambling sector to mitigate the risks of gambling-related harm and strengthen player protections in venues and to support a growing gambling industry.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what data her Department is using to assess upcoming policy reform for the land based adult gaming sector.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government uses various data sources to assess policies and impacts. This includes data provided by the Gambling Commission and the industry, a range of research findings, and feedback from a wide range of stakeholders.
The Government recognises the contributions that bingo clubs and adult gaming centres make to local communities such as seaside towns, including providing local employment and spaces where people can have fun and socialise. We will continue to work with the land-based gambling sector to mitigate the risks of gambling-related harm and strengthen player protections in venues and to support a growing gambling industry.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to continue funding tennis facilities in (a) Fife, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain following the conclusion of the Park Tennis Project.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises that sports clubs and facilities are important to communities up and down the country. High-quality, inclusive facilities help people get active. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to them and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity.
All future funding of sports facilities beyond 2025/26 will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to include decommissioning in its plan for the North Sea's energy transition.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The recent Government consultation on ‘Building the North Sea’s Energy Future’ recognised the importance of decommissioning and asked specific questions about changes that could be made to ensure an effective decommissioning framework is in place. The consultation is now closed, and we will respond in due course.
The Government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that Glenrothes and Mid Fife constituency benefits from nuclear decommissioning.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) mission is to clean up the nuclear legacy. Whilst the NDA do not have a site in Glenrothes and Mid Fife constituency, the decommissioning activity of the NDA and its supply chain provide social economic benefit to areas across Scotland. The longevity of their mission allows for positive economic benefits to be realised for years to come.