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Blair promises U-turn on asbestos-death payouts

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Published Date: 13 June 2006
TONY Blair has promised to reverse a Law Lords Ruling that prevents families receiving full compensation for asbestos- related deaths.
He made the pledge to a union conference in Blackpool as Scottish MP Jim Sheridan pressed for action at Westminster.

Last month's decision by the highest court in the land in the UK affected thousands of widows whose husbands died from Mesothelioma. The Law Lords said that because it was impossible to say under which owner of the Welsh steel workers where Vernon Barker worked, current owners Corus were not liable to pay full compensation.

But today Mr Blair told the GMB conference in Blackpool that he hoped to make an announcement "in a couple of weeks".

He said: "I regret that judgement. I'm looking to see the best opportunity for us to change it. If we can change it, we will."



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  • Last Updated: 13 June 2006 11:51 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Asbestos
 
1

Pauline,

East Sussex 14/06/2006 00:00:00

The worker breathes in 12544 litres of air in an eight hour shift - imagine the contamination from working with mixing asbestos for lagging, cutting asbestos and indeed the very fact that you were not told of the dangers. The judgement on Mr Barker's case, in favour of Corus not to compensate in full is not the right decision as Mr. Barker died from mesothelioma and the cause was danger to his health as an emloyed person. There was disregard for the provision of his health whilst working with asbestos.

2

Pauline,

East Sussex 14/06/2006 00:00:00

All widows and widowers know of the extent of how difficult it is to prove a case against big companies, but the sadness of it all is when you witness the death of a loved one through asbestos diseases like mesothelioma. All we have left is the memories of that hurt and pain and hope that the people responsible own up to their misdemeanours and take their judgement like we have to face the rest of our lives knowing that our husbands lives' were not valued in their working lives. The judgement is an attack on Mr. Barker's widow and the memory of his battle against the disease.


 

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