Save Spodden Valley group criticise Asbestos and the Mesothelioma Bill

Members of the Save Spodden Valley group have criticised the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Bill, which has again been debated in the House of Commons.

The bill, which will now go to the House of Lords for consideration, looks to establish a diffuse mesothelioma payments scheme and make related provision, and to make provision about the resolution of certain insurance disputes.

Members of Save Spodden Valley think that the bill is “being spun by the Government and the insurance industry as a good deal for victims - but in reality it is yet another insult after injury.”

The bill currently outlines plans to help Mesothelioma victims who were unable to get compensation from employers. It states that the compensation victims are entitled to is 75% of what they are owed.

However, the bill does not cover victims of other asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis or asbestos related lung cancer, victims who worked at Turner and Newall or victims who were harmed by exposure to asbestos outside of their workplace - i.e. housewives who cleaned their husbands' dusty work clothes or those harmed by environmental exposure.

A spokesperson for Spodden Valley said: “The Bill only covers a small percentage of victims (where Employers' Liability cover can not be traced).”

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has also highlighted the issue of the bill in Parliament. In a debate on Tuesday 7 January Mr Danczuk argued that there were a number of problems with the bill, including the limitation of help and the fact that victims were only eligible to 75% of the compensation they are owed.

“This is an issue that, together with our local MPs, asbestos and victim campaigning groups have been battling on in vain,” added the Save Spodden Valley spokesperson.