The Government's announcement that they will establish a new compensation scheme for mesothelioma victims, has been described as doing too little too late by construction union UCATT.

The announcement comes an incredible 26 months after the consultation into establishing an Employers Liability Insurance Bureau (ELIB) closed. The ELIB scheme envisaged by the previous Labour Government was intended to ensure that all asbestos victims would be compensated regardless of whether their employer’s insurer could be traced.

However the Government's scheme is very inferior to the original proposals as it will only cover mesothelioma victims and not other asbestos diseases. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that there are 2,000 deaths a year from asbestos related lung cancer, while a further 400 people a year die from asbestosis. An additional 500 people a year are diagnosed with the seriously life limiting, condition pleural thickening.

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The long delay in announcing the scheme means that over 5,000 people have died from mesothelioma since the ELIB consultation was opened. Many of those victims would not have been able to trace their employer's insurer and would have been denied compensation.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The Government has dressed up a watered down, inferior scheme as good news. The long delay in announcing this scheme means that hundreds of asbestos victims have died without receiving compensation.”

The Government's scheme was announced in conjunction with the Association of British Insurers whose members have been involved in a long campaign to reduce compensation for asbestos victims.

Mr Murphy, added: "Yet again the Government is assisting their friends in the insurance industry rather than acting in the best interests of asbestos victims. All asbestos victims have a right to compensation."

(CD)