There has been outrage at the decision of the Law Lords in 2007 to end compensation for pleural plaques, a scarring of the lungs caused by heavy long term exposure to asbestos. They ruled that pleural plaques had no symptoms, and was therefore not a disease. The condition – a scarring of the lungs – means its victims are five times more likely to develop an incurable asbestos related cancer.
On 23rd February TUC Risks reported that the general secretary of UCATT, (The Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians), Alan Ritchie said:'The only crime committed by victims of pleural plaques was the crime to go out and earn a living.'
A commentary by journalist Kevin Maguire in the Daily Mirror said: 'Law Lords who overturned awards of a few grand each to victims have short-changed men who suffer terrible psychological damage... The only winners are insurance giants who'll save £1 billion, including the Swiss firm Zurich, now bunging Tony Blair £500,000 a year.'
Campaigners from across the country including former Labour Party Chairman and Minister for Pensions, Ian McCartney, are complaining to ministers about the decision.
On 17th March 2008, Building.co.uk reported that the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said that the government is to re-examine the decision to end compensation for people with pleural plaques and that a consultation document is to be published on the matter.
The Scottish Executive is already looking at overturning the ban on compensation for the condition.
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