Construction union UCATT have accused the Government of washing their hands of pleural plaques victims.

During Justice questions Jonathan Djanogly the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Justice admitted that it was unfair that people in Scotland and Northern Ireland can receive compensation for having pleural plaques but those in England and Wales cannot. Mr Djanogly then added the Government was not going to do anything about it.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The Government have washed their hands of pleural plaques victims. On the one hand they admit that it is unfair that all sufferers won’t receive compensation and in the next breath they reveal they intend to do nothing about it."

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Mr Djanogly made his comment after Stephen Hepburn MP for Jarrow asked him whether the Government would restore compensation to pleural plaques victims following the decision by the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly to restore compensation. Mr Djanogly, said: "The Government understand that it could be seen as unfair for compensation to be available in one part of the UK but not in another."

Mr Murphy, added: "Plaques victims have suffered irreparable scarring to their lungs due to prolonged exposure to asbestos. Employers knew the risks workers faced but didn’t care. The fact that pleural plaques sufferers in England and Wales are still denied compensation while those in Scotland and Northern Ireland can claim, has created a postcode lottery for asbestos victims."

Compensation payments for pleural plaques victims were barred as a result of a case taken by the insurance industry to the Law Lords in 2007. Since that decision, firstly the Scottish Parliament which passed the Damages Act and more recently the Northern Ireland Assembly, have passed legislation to restore compensation for victims in their countries.

(CD/GK)