Government announcement on pleural plaques

On 25 February 2010 the government announced its position on the issue of compensation for those suffering with pleural plaques. The statement given by Jack Straw states that the results of the government consultation does not show that there is any medical evidence which would justify the conclusion that “the Law Lords’ decision should be overturned at this time or that an open – ended no fault compensation scheme should be set up”.

Those who had already commenced legal claims to recover compensation for pleural plaques at the time of the Law Lords’ decision in October 2007 will be awarded £5000 each under the an extra statutory scheme.

While the government are not willing to recognise those with pleural plaques as having incurred harm justifying compensation, they do recognise that in not doing so it precludes the early allocation of liability. Therefore, this leaves sufferers who go on to develop mesothelioma vulnerable, as often their claims are not concluded prior to their death as patients frequently die within a short period following diagnosis.

To try and speed up the payment of claims for mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases the government are setting up a working group to identify how the process can be streamlined. The working group will be made up of representatives of claimant solicitors, trade unions, the judiciary and civil servants. The working group will be tasked with looking at the barriers to gaining speedy medical evidence and settlement of these claims.