Labour betrays industrial workers over pleural plaque payouts (Greg Stone)

Labour betrays industrial workers over pleural plaque payouts

July 21, 2009 1:20 PM

Newcastle Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman Greg Stone has slammed the Labour government for "betraying" retired shipyard and industrial workers who are at risk of developing pleural plaques and other industrial lung diseases, often caused by exposure to asbestos.

The Ministry of Justice has delayed an announcement expected today, which was understood to state that the Government will not overturn a controversial 2007 Law Lords ruling which blocked compensation claims for retired workers, despite the Scottish Parliament overturning the decision for sufferers north of the border in a move which had cross-party support. The Government had previously promised an announcement "by the summer".

Media sources have suggested that the Government is expected to announce a strictly limited compensation scheme involving payments of up to £5000 for 6500 existing sufferers, closing the door to payments to new sufferers unless they subsequently develop serious additional complaints.

Greg Stone said "This is a very serious matter in Newcastle East with its history of shipyard and power-generating heavy industry. I agree with the head of the construction union UCATT that this amounts to a betrayal of the interests of retired industrial workers, who were led to believe that they had support from senior Labour politicians.

"The Government has been promising action for twelve months but have shamefully announced the decision to delay this on the last day of the parliamentary term, denying angry MPs the opportunity to hold the Government to account".