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Musculoskeletal Conditions

I declare an interest, having suffered for 35 years with ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that my hon. Friend has not mentioned. The National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society has been considering that problem and I have been working with the society to make representations to the Government urging the introduction of a national clinical director of musculoskeletal conditions. My hon. Friend is entirely right in what he says about the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions working together. That requires not extra money, but cross-departmental co-ordination to improve people's lives and to reduce the amount of benefit that is paid to support people when they are off work.