Concern that Government Money Available for Bankers But Not For Asbestos Victims

Construction union UCATT are disappointed that the Government has once again been able to find billions of pounds to bail out the banks but seems unable to find just a few million pounds to compensate pleural plaques victims.

On Tuesday (November 3) the Government announced that £33. 5 billion would be made available to further bail out the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The swift decision over the bank bailout is in stark contrast to the Government’s delay in announcing whether it will overturn the Law Lords decision and reinstate compensation for pleural plaques victims.

It is understood that if pleural plaques compensation was restored the Government would have to pay compensation amounting to £35 million a year to workers who were negligently exposed to asbestos while in its employment. The two main areas of Government where workers were exposed to asbestos and are at risk of developing pleural plaques, were the former nationalised shipyards and the Ministry of Defence.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “It is understood that the banks have to be bailed out for the good of the economy but former Government employees whose health has been damaged by negligent exposure to asbestos are equally deserving of assistance.”

Mr Ritchie, added: “Compared to the banking bailout the money needed to ensure justice for pleural plaques victims is peanuts.”

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

UCATT represents 125,000 members employed in the construction industry throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

Note to Editors: Pleural plaques are scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. Victims develop some physical symptoms and often also develop severe mental trauma. Pleural plaques victims have a greatly increased possibility of developing the incurable lung cancer mesothelioma.

In October 2007 the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of civil law and ruled that pleural plaques could no longer be compensated. In July 2008 the Government launched a consultation exercise to examine whether the Law Lords ruling should be overturned. Despite repeated promises that the Government would respond to the consultation, no announcement has yet been made.