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Pleural plaques: Government consultation results delayed again

08 May 2009

It looks unlikely that results of the Government consultation into how people diagnosed with pleural plaques can compensated will be known before Parliament’s summer break.

Results were originally due in November 2008 – six months ago.

The House of Commons was told of the further delay by Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw: “Consideration of the responses, of which we have received quite a number following publication of our paper on the way forward, is taking longer than we anticipated, because of the complexity involved.”

Sufferers of pleural plaques were dealt a huge blow in October 2007 when the House of Lords confirmed that compensation for pleural plaques would no longer be paid.

The Government launched a consultation to consider what could be done for those affected, but since it closed in October 2008 there has been delay after delay by the Government in providing the results.

This just adds to the anxiety and uncertainty felt by the victims.

Pleural plaques are areas of scarring to the tissues of the lungs and are generally thought not to cause symptoms. However, they are an indicator that a person has been exposed to asbestos. 

As a result, someone diagnosed with pleural plaques can understandably be concerned that they will develop a more serious asbestos-related condition in the future, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or pleural thickening.

For further information please contact:
Name: Sara Hunt
Phone: 08700864221
Email: sara.hunt@shoosmiths.co.uk

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