Calls made for reintroduction of pleural plaques compensation
Calls have been made for the reinstatement of payouts for sufferers of pleural plaques.
In a recent meeting with Gordon Brown and justice secretary Jack Straw, a delegation of MPs argued for a reversal of the decision made by the Law Lords in 2007 to stop compensation being issued to such people, the Shields Gazette reports.
Among the politicians present at the meeting was Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn.
Prior to the talks, he said: "The meeting is the culmination of a long-standing and passionate campaign by many MPs, unions and others to overturn the unjust Lords' ruling of 2007."
Pleural plaques is a form of scarring of the outer lining of the lungs and is an indication of exposure to asbestos.
While it is symptomless, people with the condition often become concerned that they will go on to develop other diseases associated with the hazardous insulating material, such as mesothelioma.
