THE Prime Minister has praised the "excellent work" of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

Boris Johnson made the comments in the House of Commons on Wednesday (March 24) after being asked about motor neurone disease (MND) research and funding.

In his answer to Borders MP John Lamont, the PM praised the efforts of the charity which was set up by rugby legend Doddie Weir in 2017.

Mr Lamont, the member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, asked: "Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir lives in my constituency and has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

"Doddie’s foundation, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, is campaigning alongside the research community, patients, MND Scotland and the MND Association for the government to invest £50 million over five years to establish a virtual MND research institute.

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"I understand that positive discussions have already taken place with the health secretary, but it is important to ensure that other priorities such as this are not lost in the pandemic.

"Will the Prime Minister commit the government to supporting this initiative, so that we can work towards finding a cure for this devastating disease?"

In response, Mr Johnson said: "I thank my honourable friend very much for raising this important question and for championing research into motor neurone disease, and I thank him also for raising the excellent work of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

"We have spent £54 million in the last five years towards this cause, and we are looking at ways to significantly boost the research that we are supporting."

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The Prime Minister's reply was welcomed by the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

CEO Jill Douglas said: “We are encouraged to hear the Prime Minister confirm his government is looking to significantly increase funding for MND research and we'd like to thank John Lamont, Doddie's constituency MP, for raising this important issue during today's PMQs.

"We have been working closely with other stakeholders in the motor neurone disease community to secure government support for a UK MND Research Institute and our parliamentary petition, in Doddie's name, has attracted 32,000 signatures in the last 36 hours."

"I'd like to thank the Prime Minister and John Lamont MP for recognising the work of Doddie and My Name'5 Doddie Foundation – we remain committed to working towards our vision of a world free of MND."