New Evidence Suggests Government Pleural Plaques Liability Lower Than Suggested

Construction union UCATT are demanding urgent answers after documentation seen by the union indicates that the Government’s own liability for pleural plaques victims is a fraction of what had previously been claimed.

The documentation produced by a Government representative indicates that the Government’s annual liability for pleural plaques victims could be as low as £10 million, far lower than the £35 million per annum that had previously been claimed.

Most of the Government’s liabilities relate to former nationalised heavy industries such as shipbuilding, where the Government have not had any involvement for many years.

It is understood that the principal reason for the extensive delay in replying to the 2008 consultation on compensating pleural plaques victims is due to the Government’s reluctance to make funds available to pay compensation to its current and former staff who have developed or will developed the asbestos related condition.

Government ministers had initially promised to make an announcement on restoring compensation to pleural plaques victims in November 2008. No announcement has yet been made.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: “Pleural plaques victims deserve justice, the long delay in announcing whether the Government will restore compensation to pleural plaques victims is entirely unacceptable. The Government’s own liabilities are just a drop in the ocean compared to the billions spent on bailing out the banks.”

Meanwhile UCATT are frustrated and disappointed at the Government’s failure to respond to the union’s detailed proposals about how future liability claims could be managed.

UCATT put forward detailed constructive proposals in early autumn setting out how speculative and opportunistic claims management companies who abuse vulnerable workers could be managed.

However since submitting its proposals UCATT have not received any feedback from the Government on this issue.

Mr Ritchie, added: “The Government’s attitude on pleural plaques is deeply frustrating we have attempted to make constructive proposals to ensure that compensation can be restored to victims. Unfortunately it appears that the Government is paralysed on the issue and unable to make a decision.”

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.