Pleural Plaques postcards launch at the Ministry of Justice

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT will present a giant oversized postcard to Jack Straw the Secretary of State for Justice. The handing over of the postcard will launch the union’s campaign to overturn a recent Law Lords decision to end compensation for the medical condition pleural plaques (lung scarring).

Labour MPs, members of UCATT, and asbestos campaigners will gather together on Wednesday 20^th February at 9am outside the Ministry of Justice to launch the campaign.

The photo opportunity will be on:

WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

SELBORNE HOUSE

54 VICTORIA STREET

LONDON SW1E 6QW

AT 9AM

Sufferers of pleural plaques and Alan Ritchie general secretary of UCATT, will be available for interview following the photocall.

Pleural plaques is scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and long term exposure to asbestos. Victims of pleural plaques have a greatly increased risk of contracting mesothelioma the fatal lung cancer.

Pleural plaque victims can experience a number of debilitating mental and physical conditions caused by their injuries. One in seven of those diagnosed with pleural plaques will develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma kills 2,000 people a year.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “The only crime committed by victims of pleural plaques was the crime to go out and earn a living.”

In October last year the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques would no longer be a compensatable illness. The decision has been widely criticised inside and outside Parliament. Campaigners have since been calling on Jack Straw the Secretary of State for Justice to introduce fresh legislation, to overturn the Law Lords ruling. It is estimated the ruling will save insurance companies over £1 billion in compensation payments.

A copy of the postcard which can be sent directly to the Ministry of Justice calling for the Law Lords decision to be overturned is available for download HERE.

Following the national launch UCATT will be organising a series of regional launches bringing together local MPs and asbestos groups who support the campaign.