The fight for justice for those who suffer from the asbestos related condition pleural plaques has long been a top priority of mine in Parliament.  I know that this issue is of great importance to many in this area, as well as other former ship building and ship repair communities across the country.

Pleural plaques are a scarring of the lungs caused mainly through negligent exposure to asbestos in the workplace. In the minority of cases this can develop into the fatal lung disease mesothelioma for which there is no cure. Whilst it is unlikely that pleural plaques sufferers will contract mesothelioma the very fact that we have so many former shipyard workers in South Tyneside means that we have a very high instance of the deadly disease. In an answer to one of my Parliamentary Questions it was revealed that two people die every week on Tyneside from mesothelioma. Little wonder that pleural plaques victims suffer so much anxiety when they hear every week of a former workmate who has died from this fatal disease.

Up until two years ago the courts recognised pleural plaques as a compensatable injury and insurers paid out on damage claims without difficulty.  But the Law Lords reversed this two years ago and we have been fighting since then to persuade ministers to overturn this dreadful ruling.

Now I am pleased to say that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Last week a Bill went before the Commons which would recognise pleural plaques as a compensatable illness.  Myself and other Labour MPs were very concerned that a couple of mavericks were planning to halt progress so we organised to block them and we won this stage of the battle in Parliament.

MPs unanimously approved this important Bill which now goes to the Lords.  This week I had a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is also supportive and sympathetic to pleural plaques sufferers.  Although much progress has been made, more work lies ahead.  So over the coming weeks myself, Lord Dixon and our other Labour colleagues will be working steadfastly to ensure that justice is done and this Bill goes on to the statute books as quickly as possible!