Coalition pushes ahead with pleural plaque pay-out scheme

The coalition government has confirmed it will fund its Labour predecessor’s compensation scheme for pleural plaque sufferers.

In March, then justice secretary Jack Straw announced that all sufferers of the asbestos-related condition who had lodged but not resolved claims before the October 2007 Law Lords ruling, stating that they were not entitled to compensation, should receive a £5,000 payment.

Following the election, the new government revealed that the Ministry of Justice's chief civil servant had written to Straw with concerns over the scheme’s value for money. But, responding to a written question by Labour MP Iain Wright, justice minister Jonathan Djanogly said the government would implement the plans. He said: “We hope the scheme will be in a position to start accepting claims from the end of June.”