Justice for asbestos victims: delay fears

Last updated 12:29, Friday, 26 June 2009

A UNION fears the government is intent on denying thousands of Cumbrian asbestos victims justice.

Construction union UCATT is demanding to know why the government response to a consultation that took place last year has still not been released.

The consultation into restoring payouts for sufferers was ordered following a controversial decision taken by the law lords, which meant victims of pleural plaques could not get compensation.

Insurance firms – facing a potential £1bn payout – won a ruling in 2007 that they were not liable because pleural plaques has no symptoms and is, therefore, not a disease.

Pleural plaques 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.

Victims also have a greatly increased risk of developing the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

The consultation ended in October last year but no announcement has 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 law lords' decision for pleural plaques victims north of the border."

The union fears 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 spokesperson said: "The consultation closed on October 1 and has generated a large number of responses. We are carefully analysing all the submissions, many of which are detailed and complex.

"We will seek to publish a response paper outlining the way forward as soon as possible."