Document LKq63gBbjVLoR6EvYvR8XQX0d

FILE NAME: Asbestos Cement Pipe and Sheet (ACPS) DATE: 1965 Nov 1 DOC#: ACPS067 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo - Asbestos and Health with Newspaper Article I J riUMMtiai M 1st November 196} Mr. J.A.B. Clof^i Asbestos and Health Poliowing tbe appearance of the two artlclea enoloeed in the praea and two abort dlecueeione thla morning with Mr. Bateman, I have been thinking about poaalble action of a poeitlve nature that could perhapa be taken to educate varloua eactora of opinion with ragard to the true facts on asbestos and health. 1 Parliament It would not be difficult to dlsoover which back bench M.P.'s on both sides of the House took a special Interest in industrial health. Having established such a list and added to it Mrs. Joyce Butler, H.P. and ths local M.P.'s for Rochdale. The High Peak and Bolton. The Asbestos Raaaaroh Council could invite a party to visit Rochdale and Horwlch during the next parliamentary recess. Mr. Waddell and Or. Knox would be their hosts and could, over lunch, have a frank discussion with the M.P.'s on this Important subject. It would be necessary to have available a document presenting the faots In a fair light for M.P.'s to take away with them. In addition, I would like to suggest that our subsidiary companies Invite the M.P.'s local to our asbestos goods factories to have a look round In order to see for themselves the oareful attention that we give to this problem. 2 Press . If more newspapers seem to give promlnenoe to ths subjeot of asbestos and health, It would be worth considering whether tbs Asbestos Researoh Counoil should not invite the medical correspondents of newspapers to Rochdale and Horwlch for the day for a similar frank discussion. Cont/d / V - 2- 3 Cuitowr If thla publicity oontlnues it would bo worthwhile considering whathor our subsidiary oonpaniaa should not writ* a letter to the customers who buy asbestos-based products from them, explaining that, when processed into manufactured products, asbestos is no hazard to health to those who handle it, but that care should be taken where these products are machined to ensure that proper t dust extraction plant is employed in conjunction with those machines. J.V. Roberts is a special caae which would haws to be dealt with separately and in a different way. It would be worthwhile considering whether a similar statement should appear in a box in all unit company catalogues about such asbestos-based products. k Staff Vould it be possible for Or Knox to writs an artlole on the subject of asbestos and health which could be printed and inserted in the wage packets of weekly-paid employees and distributed in the internal mall to monthly- paid employees with a cowering note from the Chairman or O Managing Director of each unit oompany'a board? With T.B.A. and J.V. Roberts, this article could appear in.. "Firefly" if an issue was on the verge of production Instead of being Issued individually. VPH/VKK et RMB V. P. HOWARD - .r THE GUARDIAN Monday, lot November 1965 I Asbestos puts new <) health demand ; / on the Government ; // BY OUR OWN REPORTER < Pressure on th e Government to set up an occupational, health service to complement the NHS is likely to grow as a result of the apparent link between asbestos and tho Increasing incident of fatal lung tumours. c The current Issue of the " British Journal of Industrial Medicine " publishes a paper on an investigation into the " ------ - -- 1-- ---- hazard carried out by D r Muriel Ncwhouse and Mrs Hilda Thompson, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Their Investigation of 70 patients at the London Hospital who died from the tumour mesothelioma demonstrated that 02.0 per cent of the cases had been in ' contact with asbestos through their work, or had lived In the same house as an asbestos worker. A total o f-30.0 per . cent had lived within heir a mile of an asbestos factory. 9 .; . . - Ministry inquiry Yecterday a spokesman at the Ministry of Labour confirmed a report in the "Sunday Times" that the chief Inspector of factories had set up a medical commute to Investigate the risk of expoiuro to asbestos. Tbs spokesman sold that this commiltre came into being about sU months ago--about a month after a similar body was set up to investigate the apparent Hnk between bladder cancer and the - rubber m anufactures Industry. The Minister of Labour. Mr Ray Gunter, was closely questioned In the Commons csrUer Ibis year after tha disclosure that aevtn . men hid died of the disease. Mr Gunter said that efforts srero being made to trace 000 moo who had been fellow employee of those who were killed. Mrt Joyce Butler. Labour MP for Wood Green, has tabled a parliamrnlarv question about the pro . |ret this committee Is making. The real need. In the view of - the TUC. Is for an occupational health service, particularly |o . view of ths Increasing use of chemicals in Industry. At rrpnrte-l to (he "G uardian" last -week, (he TUC It now to dis satisfied with tho Government's prorrrss that It Is proposing to , pend H50.000 Ksetf to open an Industrial diseases research , centre, stitched to an ertstmg ho-p.iil. In time for tbs TUC centenary In 1968.