Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will have discussions with the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the potential merits of classifying people with football-related brain injuries as having industrial injuries.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

The Department is advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC), an independent scientific body, on changes to the list of occupational diseases for which Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) can be paid. We have met recently with the Chair of IIAC, and will continue to engage with IIAC as appropriate.

We can confirm that IIAC is currently considering whether there is a link between certain neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) and professional sportspeople. IIAC found studies covering a range of NDD, which is an umbrella term covering diseases such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), dementia and MND (motor neuron disease). IIAC is initially considering ALS where there is currently more evidence than for other diseases and will need to give more consideration to the evidence before it can make a decision. IIAC will also likely consult experts (neurologists) in this field and will then publish its findings when the investigation is complete.

It would be premature to speculate on how IIAC’s investigation will progress or whether there is enough evidence of a link between certain neurodegenerative diseases and professional sportspeople to meet the threshold for a new ‘prescribed disease’ to be recommended by IIAC for the purpose of IIDB entitlement.

If recommendations are made by IIAC on this matter, they will be carefully considered by the Department.

Ross Cowie, Point of Light Award

Tall ship Tenacious

Found: portrait proposal Emma Gormley, Curator, Works of Art, brief ed the Committee on a request from Ian

Found: Hon Dame Margaret Beckett GBE Ewen Fergusson Baroness (Simone) Finn Professor Gillian Peele Rt Hon Ian

Found: APOLOGIES Rt Hon Ian Blackford John Henderson CB 2.

Found: G34, 1 HORSE GUARDS ROAD, LONDON AGENDA No Agenda item Details Papers Indicative timings 1 Apologies Ian

Found: Political Members Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett GBE 30 Labour Party Appointed 1 November 2022 Rt Hon Ian

Found: SNP MPs, I mean, Ian Blackford was ejected from the House of Commons not that long ago.

Found: Highlighted that local political representatives (Ian Blackford MP & Kate Forbes MSP) would likely be

Found: Having given up on Ms Brock I decided to write to Ian Blackford directly...which I did...twice!!

Found: All correspondence, including internal correspondence about Ian Blackford between the Scottish Government