CATHERINE MacLEOD and CAMERON SIMPSON
All victims of cancers contracted through contact with asbestos are to be eligible for faster compensation.
The government plans were set out yesterday in London. They follow the lead of the Scottish Executive which changed the law in Scotland just before Christmas so that people would no longer have to choose between claiming damages for themselves or waiting so that relatives could possibly claim more after their death.
The latest move was welcomed last night by pressure groups and politicians alike.
Joan Baird, a campaigner with the Clydebank Asbestos Group whose husband died from mesothelioma more than 10 years ago, said: "It's marvellous news, wonderful. You can't replace a loved one but those responsible should pay up."
Michael Clapham, Barnsley West & Penistone MP and chair of the all-party occupational safety group, said: "We have been campaigning for exactly this over the years for what John Hutton, the work and pensions secretary, has announced. We are over the moon."
Last month scientists warned that nearly 200,000 people would die in the future from lung cancer because of exposure to asbestos. Those particularly at risk are people born in the 1940s who worked in the construction industry, such as carpenters, laggers, shipyard workers, metal workers and electricians. However, it is not just former workers who are at risk. Under the present rules only people who contract the disease from exposure to asbestos at work are eligible to claim a lump sum from the state but under the proposals set out by Mr Hutton, up-front financial support will be provided within six weeks to people who were previously not eligible.
Speaking at a mesothelioma summit in London, Mr Hutton said: "We're committed to ensuring that everyone with mesothelioma can receive compensation, irrespective of their employment history. This legislation would mean that once diagnosed, every sufferer should receive a substantial payment within six weeks of making a claim."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article