Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any evidence of the relationship between silica or asbestos and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis which has been discovered since the publication on 3 April 2020  of the report by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council Occupational exposure to Silica or asbestos and ANCA-associated vasculitis; and what plans that Council has to review its position in that regard.

When deciding whether to prescribe new diseases or making any changes to the appropriate prescriptions under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme, Ministers are guided by the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (“IIAC”). IIAC is independent of Government.

IIAC continually reviews the emerging literature, but at present nothing has come to light which might indicate the Council should change the views expressed in its Position Paper on occupational exposure to silica or asbestos and ANCA-associated vasculitis published on 3 April 2020. The Council will, of course, maintain a watching brief on this topic and may re-evaluate its position should any substantial evidence become apparent.