MSPs unite to help asbestos disease victims

Published on Saturday 13 May 2006 12:43

MORE than 30 MSPs have joined a campaign calling on the Scottish Executive to help protect victims of asbestos-related disease.

A recent House of Lords ruling means that compensation to victims and their families will be cut. The convener of one of Holyrood's influential committees said she would do everything in her power to persuade Scottish ministers to intervene. An Executive spokesman said the judgement was still being considered.

A total of 1900 people are said to die from asbestos-related diseases across the UK each year.

However, last week the Law Lords ruled that compensation to victims and their families should be reduced where responsibility could not be attached to a single employer.

A total of 32 MSPs, including Jim Wallace, former justice minister, have condemned the ruling as overturning the traditional Scots law approach to such cases and described it as a breach of natural justice.

Alex Horne, who campaigns for victims of asbestos at the former Golden Wonder plant at Broxburn, said he had written to the Scottish Parliament asking them to condemn the ruling.

He said: "I'm unhappy at this ruling. People are concerned they will never get the full payments they are due."