ASBESTOS AND CAPE PLC

Early day motion 599, tabled 24 April 2001 by Michael Clapham (Labour). Signed by 71 members.

That this House is appalled by the tragedy of asbestos-related disease around the world and recognises that nowhere has the human cost been greater than in South Africa, where Cape plc, a British company, mined and milled asbestos until 1979; welcomes the decision by the House of Lords in July 2000 that the case for compensation brought by South African mineworkers should be heard in Britain but deplores Cape's delaying tactics; calls for the case which now includes more than 5,000 claimants to be settled as soon as possible; and urges the main institutional shareholders in the company, such as Norwich Union and Equitable Life, to use all their influence with the company to ensure it settles all these claims fairly and expeditiously.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.