Ian Lavery

Thank you, Dr Allin-Khan. As always, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Liz Jarvis) on securing this timely debate on a really serious issue, and on making a very strong speech. This debate is on silica dust in the workplace, which causes the deadly disease silicosis. What is silicosis? It is a progressive, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica. It leads to scarring, reduced lung capacity, respiratory failure and increased risk of infection. Accelerated silicosis develops after only a few years of high exposure, and is increasingly common among individuals using engineered stone. Silicosis carries significant social and economic consequences for all affected workers and, of course, their families. Who is affected by silicosis? The highest-risk groups include engineered stone fabricators and installers, construction and demolition workers, those involved in quarrying, mining and tunnelling, and foundry workers. Younger workers are disproportionately represented in new cases. Migrant workers and workers in precarious employment also face heightened risk due to poor protections. Silicosis is preventable, but only if we actually act. Engineered stone is the new asbestos, and we are repeating the same mistakes. Young workers are being exposed to lethal dust for the sake of kitchen worktops. If we wait, we will be paying for this, in people’s lives and in compensation, for decades. We have to ask: should anybody lose their life for kitchen worktops? That is the basics of it. Silicosis cases are rising, especially among workers cutting engineered stone. The current legislation—the control of substances hazardous to health regulations—is not being enforced effectively, leaving workers exposed. Engineered stone that has extremely high silica content, sometimes of more than 90%, has been identified as the primary driver of new cases. Surveillance and reporting systems are fragmented, leading to underdiagnosis and under-reporting. I think the hon. Member for Eastleigh mentioned the recommendation of a national strategy including stronger enforcement, improved surveillance, mandatory training, and potentially the prohibition of high-silica engineered stone. What action is needed? I ask the Minister for a co-ordinated, multi-pillar national strategy, which would include the consideration of a ban on high-silica engineered stone, strengthened enforcement of existing regulations, improved surveillance and mandatory reporting, national education initiatives, and long-term support and compensation pathways for affected workers. As the hon. Member for Eastleigh said, there is also a need for cross-party and cross-Government leadership on this issue. In concluding, I associate myself with The i Paper “Killer Kitchens” campaign, led by journalist Joe Duggan, and I urge everyone to join that campaign. It is extremely important in highlighting the dangers of dry cutting quartz kitchen worktops. Minister, we cannot have people dying so that people can have nice worktops. I will conclude with that.