Rosie Winterton

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New hope for Mesothelioma sufferers in Doncaster

Doncaster area Labour MPs today welcomed new proposals announced yesterday by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton MP, to provide faster compensation to all people diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Currently only people who contract the disease from exposure to asbestos at work are eligible to claim a lump sum from the state. The new proposals would provide up-front financial support (within six weeks) to people who were previously not eligible, including those who were:

• exposed to asbestos from a relative (e.g. from their overalls);
• exposed to asbestos environmentally (e.g. lived near a factory using asbestos);
• self-employed; and
• those who can’t trace their exposure to asbestos.

Local Labour MPs Rosie Winterton, Caroline Flint, Ed Miliband and Jeff Ennis commend this decision, as it righted an injustice of unequal compensation to victims of mesothelioma.

Rosie says “It is very good news that the government has committed to speed up compensation for sufferers of mesothelioma in Doncaster. Currently too many people die before they get compensation, or they find they aren’t eligible because they contracted the disease from living near asbestos, or being exposed to a relative who worked near asbestos, rather than working near it themselves.”

Caroline says “The number of cases of mesothelioma in the area is inevitably on the rise, due to the progression of the illness. I welcome the government’s commitment to get legislation through Parliament so everyone with mesothelioma can claim compensation, irrespective of their employment history.”

Ed says “Mesothelioma is a dreadful disease which devastates the lives of some people in Doncaster. While no amount of compensation will reconcile the suffering caused by mesothelioma to families and communities, this legislation will help to ensure that help is available quicker and to more people who need it.”

Jeff says “This government has committed to legislation ensuring that once diagnosed, every sufferer, regardless of their past employers, should receive a substantial payment within six weeks of making a claim. This is a big step forward from previous legislation which was unfairly limited.”