The government has unveiled details of how the system for compensating sufferers of mesothelioma would be “improved and speeded up”.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, said interim measures to speed up current claims would be put into action and that he was determined to put in place a long-term solution.
"I am committed to ensuring sufferers of this awful disease, which progresses so rapidly from the time of diagnosis, will get compensation before they die," said Mr Hutton.
"There are a series of measures we will put into action straight away, such as clarifying with claims handlers best practice to ensure priority is given to those with mesothelioma. We will also work with Revenue and Customs so that employer records can be traced quicker.”
Other short-term changes will include introducing a standard claim letter, which will identify the claim as one for mesothelioma so it will receive priority from the start. A new leaflet for explaining what help is available and where to find it will also be created.
"We will continue to work with our partners to ensure these short-term outcomes are just the first steps as we develop options for the future. I will provide a further update in the autumn,” said Hutton.
The DWP said it had worked closely with a number of partners and stakeholders, including the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI), and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), as well as the TUC and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
To support the Code of Practice for tracing Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) policies, the ABI will introduce a phone helpline in the autumn and will also issue guidance on how to get the best out of the code.
The measures come on top of the government's decision to change the law through the Compensation Bill, in light of the Law Lords' ruling on the Barker v Corus case. Lobby groups has argued that the Barker ruling would have caused delays in resolving claims and made it more difficult for sufferers to recover full compensation.
This move will also enable certain changes to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which “will speed the process of paying claims and produce a fair outcome for insurers”.
