JULIA URGES ACTION, NOT DELAY ON PLEURAL PLAQUES ANNOUNCEMENT

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Jul 2009

MP Julia Goldsworthy pressed the government to end the agonising wait for an overdue announcement on compensation for pleural plaques sufferers in Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday.

Many former factory and dock workers in Cornwall have been diagnosed with the condition - a scarring of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Until a Law Lords decision in 2007, they were entitled to compensation. After the ruling it was judged that people with pleural plaques could no longer sue their employers for damages. Hopes that the government would act to reverse this decision were raised after the Scottish government passed a law last month reversing the Lords ruling to allow compensation claims.

The government promised to publish a decision last October after a consultation on the issue ended. Sufferers were then told that a decision would be reached after Easter, but in spite of officials' repeated statements that a decision would be announced soon it has still not been made public.

Ms Goldsworthy raised the issue in Prime Minister's Questions with stand-in Deputy Leader Harriet Harman. The government have said that they intend to announce their decision and publish a response paper before the summer recess - but with Parliament due to rise in a fortnight, and no announcement forthcoming, there are concerns that the issue will once again be kicked into the long grass.

Commenting, Julia said:

"This long delay for an answer, some 9 months after the consultation process ended and after repeated promises of an announcement, is completely unacceptable.

"The government must end the delay and announce its decision now, as victims of this condition have been left in limbo for far too long. This is about justice for those affected - the government must do the right thing and allow people suffering with pleural plaques to be fully compensated."