Martin Caton

Justice for Pleural Plaques Asbestos Victims

Last Summer, Martin invited Brian Legge and Steve Meyrick, of Swansea GMB (Boilermakers) Union to the House of Commons to meet Welsh MPs and present a petition calling for compensations for people suffering from pleural plaques.

At that time a Court decision had over-turned the previous practice of awarding pleural plaques victims compensation from the insurers of the employers who had put them in contact with asbestos.

The trade unions had appealed to the House of Lords on behalf of affected members and a decision was awaited.  In the end the Lords came out against compensating pleural plaques victims.

Martin has joined with other Labour Members of Parliament in seeking to get the right to compensation restored.   He said, “We have put down a number of parliamentary motions, initiated a special debate on pleural plaques, held a very well attended lobby and taken the case directly to Ministers.

“We have not yet got the just deal that pleural plaques victims, like Brian Legge, deserve but the door has not been slammed in our faces.  The government is still listening and considering whether new legislation might be appropriate. One significant advance has been the announcement by the Scottish parliament that it intends to legislate to enable pleural plaques victims to receive compensation.

“It would be an absolute nonsense to have people one side of the Scottish border eligible for compensation and those on the other side denied it.  I hope the Scots go ahead, as soon as possible, because I think that would result in England and Wales following suit. In the meantime the campaign for justice goes on.” 

Latest ..................

..........Progress in Campaign for Asbestos Victims, Claims MP

Last summer Brian Legg and Steve Meyrick of Swansea GMB (Boilermakers) Union travelled to Westminster to present a petition to Martin Caton MP calling for people suffering from ‘pleural plaques’ caused by contact with asbestos to be eligible for compensation.  This followed a legal decision, in favour of employers who had put workers in contact with asbestos, to deny such compensation.

Martin Caton promised his support to the campaign to secure help for pleural plaques victims.  He tabled a Parliamentary motion on the issue at that time and joined with other concerned MPs from across the UK to press the Government for action.

He said, “We put down a series of further motions on pleural plaques, got debates focused on the issue and held mass lobbies and meetings to make the case.

“Ministers have been sympathetic but until recently were reluctant to commit to action.  Then, at Prime Ministers Questions at the end of March, Gordon Brown told the House of Commons:

“Asbestosis and mesothelioma are terrible diseases, and all of us who have seen the effects that they cause know that we have to do more to help the victims of those diseases. On pleural plaques, we are looking at the matter at this very moment. We will publish a consultation document soon. We are determined to take some action.”

“This is welcome news.  We are waiting now to see exactly what action the Government will take but this is very welcome news for people like my constituent Brian Legg and many others.”