Union fears over asbestos justice rule

Construction union UCATT fears that the Government is intent on denying justice for thousands of Rochdale asbestos victims.

The Government was due to respond last year to a consultation into restoring payouts for sufferers after a controversial decision taken by the Law Lords meant victims of pleural plaque could not get compensation.

Insurance firms — facing a potential £1bn payout — won a ruling in 2007 that they were not liable because pleural plaque had no symptoms and was therefore not a disease.

Pleural plaque is scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos.

Victims suffer some physical symptoms, but can also experience severe mental distress. They also have a greatly-increased risk of developing incurable lung disease, mesothelioma.

The consultation ended in October. No announcement has yet been made.

Earlier this year Prime Minister Gordon Brown said “I can assure you there will be an announcement very soon.”

A few months later he repeated: “The Justice Secretary will make a statement on this when we return after Easter.”

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “These constant delays in responding to the consultation are becoming decidedly sinister.

“Thousands of ordinary working class people have had their health needlessly damaged by breathing in asbestos. The Government’s delay and inaction is increasing their suffering.

It had previously been thought that the Government was preparing to overturn the Law Lords decision in 2007 to ban compensation for pleural plaques victims, particularly as the Scottish Parliament has already passed legislation overturning the decision for victims north of the border.

The union fears that the Government will publish its response on the last day the Commons is sitting before the three-month recess to bury the bad news.

A Ministry of Justice spokesmann said: “The consultation closed on October 1 and has generated a large number of responses.

“We are carefully analysing all the submissions received, many of which are detailed and complex. We will seek to publish a response paper outlining the way forward as soon as possible.”