PLEURAL PLAQUES AND THE LAW LORDS' DECISION

Early day motion 532, tabled 10 December 2007 by Michael Clapham (Labour). Signed by 107 members.

That this House is gravely concerned by the decision of the Law Lords on pleural plaques caused by exposure to asbestos delivered on 17th October 2007; notes that Professor Newman Taylor and Professor Mark Britton, world-renowned experts on asbestos-related diseases, have dispelled the myth held in some quarters that pleural plaques are widespread amongst the general population; considers that pleural plaques caused by the negligent exposure to asbestos make obvious that the body of a sufferer has been polluted by asbestos particles; believes that the polluter should pay compensation to those negligently contaminated by the fatal fibre; and calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to introduce legislative proposals to reverse the Law Lords' decision and avoid the development of a postcode lottery for those negligently exposed to asbestos.

Signatures by party: Labour 87, Liberal Democrat 9, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Independent 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.