Pleural Plaques battle continues

last Wednesday (July 9) the Government released a consultation document on the various options, including changing the law, setting up a scheme or doing nothing.

Construction Union, UCATT, have kept up their campaign for compensation for those with the asbestos related condition, pleural plaques. Last October the Law Lords overturned over 20 years of common law and ruled that pleural plaques should no longer be a compensational illness and last Wednesday (July 9) the Government released a consultation document on the various options, including changing the law, setting up a scheme or doing nothing. UCATT said it was pleased that the Government was actively considering the issue, but they were disappointed that the document says the 'Government is not minded' to overturn the Law Lords decision. This potentially places the Government at odds with the Scottish Parliament, who have already brought forward a Bill to overturn the Law Lords judgement. In an attempt to place further pressure on the Government to overturn the Law Lords ruling, UCATT have decided to campaign in the seats of Cabinet Ministers where there is a high level of asbestos illness. On July 18 UCATT will be targeting the seats of John Hutton and also the South Shields constituency of foreign secretary David Miliband. Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: 'While I welcome that the Government is seriously examining this issue, it would be unfair and intolerable if pleural plaque victims north of the border received compensation, while those in England did not.'