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Thank you. That is me.

Good morning, panel. UK industrial injuries policy has generally moved quite slowly. We have been told recently that we are inheriting a warehouse full of paper files and legislation that has been left unreformed for a number of years. To guide us on how we can bring quicker change to Scotland, will any of the witnesses comment on the reasons why there has been such little progress? Is that down to a lack of expertise or will to reform the system?

It is absolutely antiquated, isn’t it? I think that the system dates back to the late 1920s.

Norman, do you want to come in on that?

Thank you, convener—that is me done.

Good morning to the panel. I really appreciate your time. I will continue with the issue of timing. In relation to industrial injuries policy in general, things have moved extremely slowly. In the earlier session, I mentioned that we are inheriting a warehouse full of papers and legislation that has been left unreformed since its inception, all the way back in the late 1920s. To guide us on how we can bring about a quicker change in Scotland, will witnesses comment on the reasons for there having been so little progress at a UK level? Is it due to a lack of expertise, a lack of will to reform, or a mix of both? I will put that question to Ian Tasker first.

In their joint written submission, the asbestos support groups say that, ideally, the consultation on employment injuries assistance should take place alongside the consultation on SEIAC. Do witnesses see merit in that suggestion?

I put that question to witnesses in the room. Norman Provan, do you want to come in on that?

Anyone online? No. Back to you, convener.

Will the complexity involved in the safe and secure transfer of the existing cases alter the timescale that is required for the introduction of the Scottish council?

Thank you for that.

I go back to Professor Watterson. In response to question 10, your written submission states:

“A SEIAC is urgently needed to help to advise employers and employees in Scotland to recognise the full range of industrial diseases.”

What is your comment on the urgency of what is needed and on how you see SEIAC fulfilling that role? You have touched on that already, but if you could expand further, that would be great.

Given what I have described and the complexity of the system, it is certainly a sorry state of affairs on which to move forward, but what we are looking for is safe and secure transfer—that is the argument that we have had. Would that approach alter the timescale that is required for the introduction of the Scottish council?