Parliamentary Progress In The Battle For Pleural Plaques Justice

Construction union UCATT, have welcomed the fact that a Private Members Bill, which is seeking justice for pleural plaques sufferers, has cleared its first Commons hurdle.

The Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill was tabled by the Labour MP Andrew Dismore has today (April 24) passed its second reading. The Bill will now proceed to committee stage.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “It is good news that the Bill will progress through Parliament, it underlines the strength of feeling there is on this issue. However we should not be relying on a Private Members Bill to resolve such a serious situation.”

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. Victims suffer some physical symptoms but often experience high levels of mental distress. Pleural plaques victims have a greatly increased chance of developing the incurable lung cancer mesothelioma.

In October 2007 the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be compensatable. Since then unions led by UCATT and asbestos campaign groups have been campaigning to get the Law Lords decision overturned.

Following a great deal of pressure the Government held a consultation on the issue last summer. The Government was due to respond to the consultation last November that decision was delayed and is expected soon.

While responding to Mr Dismore’s Bill, junior Justice Minister David Hanson, confirmed that the Government was “looking at legislative redress” on the matter.

Although the Conservatives decided not to vote against Mr Dismore’s Bill or talk it out, they showed a high level of scepticism to its intentions. Eleanor Laing MP, the Conservative’s shadow justice minister, described pleural plaques as a “benign condition”.

Mr Ritchie, added: “It is outrageous for the Tories to describe plaques as benign. Workers have had their health affected through no fault of their own. They face the daily dread of not knowing whether they will develop a far worse disease. Such comments demonstrate how far out of touch the Conservatives are from the lives of ordinary workers.”

The Scottish Parliament has already passed legislation to overturn the Law Lords decision north of the border. However this week the insurance industry launched a judicial review in an attempt to overturn the law.

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