Experts Meeting At Commons Places Further Pressure On Government To Act In Pleural Plaques Campaign

Construction union UCATT today organised a seminar of a panel of experts to discuss how and why the Government must overturn the Law Lords decision to no longer compensate pleural plaque sufferers.

Pleural plaques are calcified scarring of the lungs caused by long-term exposure to asbestos. Although they do not create physical symptoms, they are a clear indication of asbestos damage and this creates acute mental anxiety in sufferers, as it demonstrates their increased likelihood of contracting fatal asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma.

Despite this medical evidence on October last year the Law Lords overturned 30 years of legal history and ruled that pleural plaque victims should no longer be compensated.

The seminar, which was held in the House of Commons, in order to keep MPs fully informed of the issues.

Professor Mark Britton an expert on asbestos diseases presented a detailed audiovisual presentation of pleural plaque damage to the lungs. He pointed out that most people were diagnosed with pleural plaques by accident, when they were x-rayed for other diseases. He also emphasised the debilitating mental affects of the disease. He said: “People’s whole quality of life disintegrates and it leaves mental casualties.”

In a heartfelt contribution Alan Ritchie general secretary of UCATT, revealed how as a young apprentice on the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, he would have been forced to work with asbestos, if it had not been for the intervention of a shop steward. Speaking from personal experience he said: “It is heartbreaking when a member tells you that they have mesothelioma. You know that in a year they will be dead.”

Matthew Cartledge the senior partner of trade union lawyers OH Parsons, debunked the myth that it would be difficult for the Government to overturn the Law Lords judgement, describing this suggestion as “just plain wrong”. He also emphasised that it was essential that pleural plaque sufferers should be able to claim provisional damages and to be able to identify the company and insurers who were liable. Mr Cartledge pointed out that this detailed work would not now happen until people developed mesothelioma. He explained his own personal experiences of having to help a dying man to work out where exposure to asbestos had occurred. Mr Cartledge, said; “By receiving provisional damages and resolving identification [of insurance companies] all these issues would have been resolved far earlier.”

Ian Gibson MP spoke forcefully about the continuing dangers of asbestos, which remains present in many public sector and private buildings, which was why health and safety levels needed to be increased.

Mr Gibson also questioned the Law Lords competence to make their initial judgement. He said: “What do Law Lords know they get a piece of paper from some worthy and then become a font of all knowledge.”

Michael Clapham MP. Who chaired the meeting summed up the importance of the event, when he said: “it is important to keep up the pressure. This place does not move without pressure.”

Last month UCATT launched a postcard campaign and have distributed 100,000 postcards, to be sent directly to Jack Straw the Justice Minister in the hope that he will pressurize him to overturn the Law Lords decision.

At a recent Prime Minister’s Question Time Gordon Brown said that he would launch a consultation exercise on the matter. Details of this consultation exercise, what is proposed and a time frame are not yet known.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235