Brown fights for asbestos disease sufferers

Date published: 18/03/2008

Gordon Brown has delivered a huge boost to Rochdale vicitms of an asbestos-related condition after confirming he is “determined” to take action against a decision which stopped sufferers getting compensation.

The Prime Minister said the Government will publish a consultation soon on pleural plaques - areas of thick scar tissue which form in the chest lining and diaphragm following inhalation of asbestos fibres.

Last year, insurance firms facing a potential £1bn payout won a Law Lords ruling that they were not liable because pleural plaques had no symptoms and was, therefore, not a disease.

The ruling was described as “outrageous” by trade unions and many Labour MPs, but the Government said the ruling would not be overturned.

But the PM said: “Asbestosis and mesothelioma are terrible diseases, and all of us who have seen the effects that they cause know that we have to do more to help the victims of those diseases.

“On pleural plaques, we are looking at the matter at this very moment.

“We will publish a consultation document soon. We are determined to take some action.”
Mr Brown will meet a delegation of MPs within the next two weeks who have been campaigning to overturn the decision.

Milnrow and Newhey MP Phil Woolas said: “Many people may not have heard of this condition but it is a horrid one mainly affecting people in traditionally industrial areas like ours.

“I have had a steady stream of cases in my office which are extremely upsetting and I hope Gordon’s announcement will be of some comfort.”

The promise from the PM came after Labour backbencher Stephen Hepburn said the plight of pleural plaque sufferers was “disgraceful” and that they are “being denied their rightful claim to compensation by the courts.”

He called on the Prime Minister to “bring an end to this dreadful, Victorian scandal.”