The government has refused to overturn a ruling regarding compensation for thousands of asbestos victims suffering from plural plaque.

Law Lords denied compensation for plural plaque sufferers who made claims after the 2007 House of Lords ruling. Unions were confident that the government would overturn the decision this week after strong campaigning from both officials and the media.

The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, said that on the basis of medical evidence received during consultation into the ruling, the government was unable to conclude that the Law Lords’ decision should be changed or that an open-ended compensation should be established.

Controversially, sufferers living in England and Wales will only receive payouts if they filed their claim before 2007, while those in Scotland are unaffected by the 2007 ruling after it was overturned by the Scottish Parliament.

Mr. Straw has been accused of bending to insurers’ complaints regarding the ruling, which would have cost the industry billions in compensation payouts.

Plural plaque are common amongst those who have worked with asbestos or asbestos-based materials in the past. Causing scaring of the lungs, sufferers are often unaware of the condition due to its asymptomatic nature.

Commenting on the announcement, Heather Duffy of Fosters said: “It is wrong that an accident of geography means that plural plaque victims in England and Wales are barred from receiving compensation but those in Scotland are free to claim full compensation”.

Sufferers of asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis or mesothelioma are still eligible for full compensation and Heather has been successful in many cases.

If you are suffering from an industrial disease such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, vibration white finger or industrial deafness, please contact us.