Change in law on asbestos cancer claims

CHANGES to the law to help asbestos-related cancer victims claim compensation were expected to be passed by MSPs today.

A loophole in the law stemming from a recent House of Lords ruling will be addressed by Holyrood agreeing to adopt Westminster legislation.

If action was not taken, the judgement could have cut pay-outs to victims of mesothelioma by as much as 90 per cent.

Labour MSP Des McNulty, who has campaigned on behalf of mesothelioma victims and their families, said he was delighted ministers have taken action so quickly.

It comes after a recent Lords ruling effectively made it more difficult for an employee who had worked for several firms to claim full compensation.

Mr McNulty, the MSP for Clydebank, said: "It is fair that employers who negligently exposed their employees to this workplace killer compensate them fully."