I have met with the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Jack Straw recently to keep up the pressure on the Government on the issue of Pleural Plaques.

I raised the plight of pleural plaques sufferers with the Prime Minister and Mr Straw to get the Law Lords ruling overturned after a previous meeting was cancelled. The potential Government cost of any compensation deal was also discussed. I said that although the Government estimated the cost at between £26m and £41m every year for 15 years, he is informed that the bill would only be £10m-a-year. I said that there had also been positive moves in terms of speeding up compensation for sufferers of mesothelioma.

 

Pleural Plaques sufferers were disbarred from compensation in October 2007 following a unanimous Law Lords ruling. Their claim was disallowed because of the unlikelihood that a more serious asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma would develop from the presence of Pleural Plaques in the lungs. The Law Lords also ruled out the possibility of compensation for the personal anxiety felt by Pleural Plaques sufferers brought about by their concern that a more serious condition may develop.

 

 

There is still a huge argument about the financial implications. However, I will continue to keep up the pressure on the Government to right this dreadful wrong.