Union’s fear over asbestos verdict

A long-awaited decision over restoring justice for victims of an asbestos-related disease will be made within days — but a union fears it will be a betrayal of the working classes.

MPs and unions have repeatedly called for action after the House of Lords ruled in 2007 that sufferers of pleural plaques — which can be an indicator of fatal asbestosis — were no longer entitled to compensation.

Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said Government will respond to a consultation which ended more than nine months ago before the Commons break for summer recess on 21 July. But construction union UCATT fears the Government will use a new medical report as an excuse to betray pleural plaques sufferers in Rochdale.

Last week, an Industrial Injuries Advisory Council report rejected paying compensation to pleural plaques victims.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “UCATT has learned that the Government is preparing to betray pleural plaques victims and deny them the right to compensation and legal redress.

“If the Government does announce that plaques victims will no longer be compensated, it must be understood this is a complete betrayal of working class people.”

UCATT believes the Government will instead pay £5,000 to all 6,500 victims whose cases are on hold after the ruling.

However, once that money is paid there will be no compensation paid to anyone who develops pleural plaques in the future.

Mr Ritchie added: “This is a kick in the teeth to thousands of people who will develop pleural plaques in the future. Symptoms take 20-30 years to develop.”

Ministers are expected to announce they will set up a National Centre for Asbestos Diseases.

But Mr Ritchie added: “A non-statutory asbestos register is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Research into asbestos diseases is desperately needed but to play off one set of asbestos victims against another is stomach-churning.”