Scottish pleural plaque bill

The Scottish Bill will reinstate the right to bring a claim on the basis that unacceptable exposure to asbestos dust has caused damage in the form of pleural plaques.

This in turn increases the pressure on the English Parliament to reinstate justice for those with pleural plaques.

The Scottish Bill will result in damages being awarded for the condition of pleural plaques, probably of between £5,000 and £12,000 for people who were exposed to asbestos while working in Scotland. In addition having succeeded in a claim for the development of pleural plaques should further asbestos related conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural thickening, or lung cancer develop further compensation can be awarded with minimal delay. Compensation for these asbestos related conditions is often awarded at in excess of £100,000 depending on the facts of each case.

When introducing the Bill at Holyrood Mr Ewing said:-

"Industries such as ship building and construction contributed to our nation's wealth in the past."

"Sadly however these industries have also given many Scots a legacy which still impacts on their lives today through exposure to asbestos. It is therefore right and proper that we should not turn our back on these people.That is why the Scottish Government has taken urgent steps to overrule the House of Lords judgement and ensure that people with pleural plaques can continue to raise an action for damages. There have been claims that we are legislating for the 'worried well'. This is a gross misrepresentation of people who have a significantly higher risk than the general population of developing serious asbestos-related disease."

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