MERSEY victims of an asbestos-related condition were given fresh hope of compensation – even as the Government was revealed to be in chaos over the issue.
A Bill to overturn a Law Lords ruling denying payouts to sufferers from “pleural plaques” – a scarring of the lungs, that can trigger mesothelioma and lung cancer – cleared the Commons on Friday.
But ministers immediately made clear they stood ready to block the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill in the House of Lords, if necessary.
They have argued just 5% of pleural plaques sufferers go on to develop asbestos-related diseases – and that changing the law would open the floodgates to other compensation claims worth billions.
It is 15 months since the Government first signalled it would not overturn the 2007 ruling, but it has run scared of confirming the decision after Labour MPs reacted with outrage.
Justice minister Bridget Prentice apologised to MPs after admitting a final decision was no closer, adding: "That is very frustrating for everyone concerned."
As a result, ministers had little choice but to allow the backbench Bill to pass to the Lords. It was given a third reading by 51 votes to zero.
However, the Bill has under four weeks to clear the Lords and Ms Prentice admitted ministers would step in to prevent it reaching the statute book, if necessary.
