Pleural plaques delay condemned

The construction union Ucatt has criticised the failure of the government to outline any plans to deal with the issue of pleural plaques.

Pleural plaques is scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos. Sufferers have a greatly increased chance of developing the incurable lung cancer mesothelioma.

In October 2007 the law lords overturned 30 years of common law by ruling that those with pleural plaques should no longer be compensated. The government accepted this.

A government consultation, which ended in early October, has yet to announce its result.