VICTORY FOR SOUTH AFRICAN ASBESTOS CLAIMANTS

Early day motion 661, tabled 15 January 2002 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 64 members.

That this House welcomes the agreement, by Cape plc, a British company who mined asbestos in South Africa for several decades, to pay ú21 million in compensation to South African asbestos victims; congratulates the 7,500 claimants, the communities of Northern Cape and Northern Province and the National Union of Mineworkers in South Africa, as well as national and regional political leaders in South Africa for the perseverance and dignity of their long struggle for justice; commends the actions of those in the United Kingdom who have worked tirelessly to support the claimants, including the lawyers of Leigh, Day and Co and John Pickering and Partners, and the staff and activists of pressure group Action for Southern Africa, as well as many trade union members in the United Kingdom; believes that this settlement represents a contribution to the ongoing process of truth and reconciliation in South Africa, particularly through the recognition of the role of United Kingdom based businesses in the injustices of the past; notes with concern that many multinational companies continue to neglect the health and safety of their workers; and welcomes the signals given by this case that the British public now demands concrete action to back up the warm words of corporate social responsibility.

Signatures by party: Labour 47, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.