LONDON, December 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- Photocall: 1pm, Wednesday 17 December, 2008

- Old Palace Yard, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA

MPs will gather for a photo-op as an Early Day Motion calling for the damaging 2007 Lords ruling ending the right to compensation is laid before the Commons, signalling the growing concern among MPs that the Ministry of Justice has yet to make clear what steps it will take to provide support for thousands of UK workers scarred by pleural plaques. The EDM has already been endorsed by 87 MPs.

Michael Clapham MP, who tabled the EDM said: Pleural plaques are a massive issue for MPs especially those representing seats which contained a large amount of heavy industry. The delay in the Government's announcement about whether pleural plaque victims will have the right to compensation restored is unacceptable, it is creating greater levels of anxiety uncertainty and misery for people whose health and well-being has been damaged, simply for going to work.

Jim Sheridan MP, who has played a key role in the campaign, said: We are calling on the Labour Government to reverse the decision that adversely affects thousands of working families.

Pleural plaques are scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. Victims suffer some physical symptoms but experience severe mental distress. People with pleural plaques have a greatly increased risk of developing the incurable lung disease mesothelioma.

In October 2007 the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques victims could no longer claim compensation. The case was brought by the insurance industry, who are set to save in excess of GBP1 billion if the Law Lords ruling is not overturned.

Following a long running campaign by unions, MPs and asbestos campaigners the Government agreed to consult on whether the Law Lords ruling should be overturned and whether compensation should be paid to pleural plaques victims. The consultation closed in early October 2008.

In October, Justice Minister Jack Straw told the House of Commons that an announcement on the Government intentions on pleural plaques would be announced within a month. Nearly two months later there has not been an announcement and it is understood that one is not imminent.

The delay in the Government making an announcement is further complicated by the fact that the Scottish Parliament are moving ahead with a Bill which will overturn the Law Lords decision north of the border. There is a real danger of a postcode lottery being created with pleural plaque suffers living in Scotland being eligible for compensation but those in England and Wales being denied recompense.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: At their best Labour Governments are about social justice. Pleural plaques victims deserve compensation pure and simple. A message needs to be sent to employers and the insurance industry that if workers health is damaged at work then compensation must be paid.

The delay in the Government's announcement only benefits one group, the greedy insurance industry. They were more than happy to accept insurance premiums but when it comes to paying even the smallest amount of compensation, they fight tooth and nail to deny workers their rightful compensation.

Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite said: Having to suffer or watch your relatives suffer from a slow and painful death is horrific. The House of Lords decision in October 2007, which ended the right of asbestos victims suffering from this disease to compensation, deepened this suffering further still.

Thousands of men and women have been seriously wronged and face the twin blows of knowing they have a very high risk of developing an asbestos-related disease that will kill them, and the denial of the compensation they and their families rightly deserve. These people, their families and their unions are now looking to our Government to right this wrong.

Unite joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, added: The Lords' ruling was a disaster for working people. There is only one cause of this disease and that is the widespread, indiscriminate use of asbestos throughout industry for years. No one protected our people from this exposure, and now they are suffering.

Compensation must come from those who put them at risk in the first place, and from an insurance industry which made money from that risk. But it is clear that neither employers nor the insurance industry will do right by these workers so we need our Government to make them.

John McClean, GMB National HS Officer called on Jack Straw, the Justice Minister, to inform all of those waiting on the result to be put out of their misery stating: Workers are dying every day from asbestos related diseases. It is time for the uncertainty to end and for compensation to be restored to suffering workers. At a time when GMB is considering its response to the consultation document from the Northern Ireland Office of Finance and Personnel on the same issue, it is two and a half months since the consultation on pleural plaques for England and Wales closed.

GMB is aware that there was a large number who took part in the consultation but that is no excuse for a delayed response from the Government. GMB calls on the Government to issue a statement on the consultation before Parliament closes on Thursday for the festive break. GMB strongly suspects that the overwhelming majority of consultees wanted the House of Lords decision overturned and the compensation for victims restored.

For further information please contact Barckley Sumner on +44-780-2329-235 or Pauline Doyle on +44-7976-832861. Please Note: Entry to the House of Commons is restricted. If you wish to take part in the photocall arrangements can be made to provide access but you should contact one of the organisers prior to the event.