TURNER & NEWALL AND COMPENSATION CLAIMS FOR ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASE

Early day motion 423, tabled 14 November 2001 by Tony Lloyd (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House notes that Turner and Newall, once the UK's largest asbestos manufacturer, is under an Order of Administration following the voluntary Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of its parent company, Federal Mogul; deplores the fact that the company can remain trading and protect the interests of its shareholders but can abnegate its responsibilities towards its former employees who are now suffering from chronic and terminal asbestos-related disease; is concerned that the Order of Administration could delay, reduce or cease compensation payments to these victims and their families; is perplexed as to why the company was allowed to trade self-insured and not compulsory insured; notes the parallels with the case of Chester Street Holdings Ltd; and calls on the Government to intervene and open a broader inquiry into the issue of company liability for the compensation claims of people suffering with asbestos-related diseases.

Signatures by party: Labour 37, Liberal Democrat 4, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.