LONDON, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Joint General Secretary, Derek Simpson says,

"We welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to act on pleural plaques. Diagnosis of pleural plaques often leads to extreme distress for the victims, as they fear they may develop fatal asbestos related diseases which can often lead to a slow and painful death."

Notes to editors

Pleural plaques is an asbestos related injury which causes scarring on the lungs; it shows an increased risk of developing a more serious asbestos related injury, and leads to anxiety as a result of fear of developing a more serious asbestos related injury. It also leads to anxiety as a result of developing an incurable asbestos related illness.

In October 2007 the Law Lords rejected an appeal by the union against an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal in January 2006. The decision removed an established right to compensation, which had existed for 20 years, for pleural plaques which are in almost every case caused by workers being exposed to asbestos due to negligence of their employers.

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo, +44(0)7768-931-315