Turner and Newall compensation announcement to help asbestos cancer sufferers

Aerial view of the former Turners asbestos factory

The government has taken a decision benefiting hundreds of sufferers of the fatal asbestos cancer, mesothelioma.

The Government has announced its intention to allow a group of Turner and Newall (T&N) workers with asbestos related diseases to keep their full Government compensation alongside that paid by the company.

The Government currently recovers the lump-sum amounts paid out under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979, to those who are suffering from asbestos-related diseases, if they also receive reduced T&N compensation1.

However, the Government has acted so that those receiving only a fraction of their full compensation from T&N will no longer have their lump sum from the Government deducted.

James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said: "It is important that these workers get all the help they can, which is why I have taken this decision. We have been in discussion with those representing the workers and have decided not to make deductions any more. This will mean that those people receiving only a fraction of their full compensation will not be penalised further.

"We will work up the details of how this will be achieved and implemented so that the changes can be brought into effect as soon as possible." 

Paul Rowen MP said: “This is excellent news; I only raised this issue last week during a Parliamentary Debate on Pleural Plaques. This decision will affect several thousand people in Rochdale alone and I am pleased that after such a long, all-party campaign, the Government has finally listened to our concerns and people will receive their full compensation payments. This decision is justice for those who have suffered and the fact that the Government has finally confirmed that victims will no longer lose out on some of their compensation is a vindication for those who have fought so hard.”

Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite Union, who campaigned for the decision, said: “We are delighted that the government has put this right. Had it not been for Unite’s prompt intervention this problem would have remained unchecked to the disadvantage of many mesothelioma sufferers and their families. This decision will benefit our members and countless other T&N asbestos victims who have suffered serious pain and loss of life, and it will aid their families who have to care for them.

“The union stepped in because it was wrong that workers condemned to an agonising death, and their grieving loved ones, were facing their compensation being so drastically cut. It was an important point of principle which Unite was committed to getting resolved.
“The new legislation was intended to benefit people with mesothelioma but it also resulted in compensation payments to victims from the T&N Trust being drastically reduced or extinguished altogether. The determined action taken by Unite the union was instrumental in raising this issue at the highest possible level and achieving a fair and just political solution.”