I have welcomed a multi-million pound package of help for individuals whose health has been put at risk due to exposure to asbestos.

It includes action to help people with asbestos related diseases to claim compensation, increase their upfront payments, and work towards a fund of last resort for people diagnosed with a serious asbestos-related illness who cannot trace their insurance records.

It also includes financial help to people with pleural plaques who were left in limbo by a House of Lords ruling in 2007.

The full list of measures, which was announced as part of the Government's response to a consultation
on pleural plaques (an asbestos related condition) includes:

• An ex-statutory scheme of fixed payments of £5k for individuals who had begun, but not resolved, a legal claim for compensation for pleural plaques at the time of the Law Lords ruling in 2007;
• Work towards the creation of an Employers Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) to help people who develop an asbestos-related disease to trace the relevant insurer and obtain full compensation.
• A consultation on the creation of an Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau (ELIB), which will act as a fund of last resort for sufferers of asbestos-related disease who cannot trace the insurance records needed to gain compensation.
• Increased upfront payments for Mesothelioma sufferers and their dependents.
• The establishment of a world-leading network of medical practitioners to research asbestos-related disease, with increased investment from Government alongside £3m funding from the insurance industry;
• Action to examine and streamline litigation practices and procedures to speed up claims relating to
• Mesothelioma.

I am delighted that Labour is building on its record of support for asbestos victims with the measures announced today.
I've met many people in South Birmingham who were exposed to asbestos during their working lives; these measures
will help people gain swifter compensation for asbestos-related diseases - as will increased investment for medical research
in this area.

I am very glad there will be fixed payments for people with pleural plaques who had cases in the pipeline before the Law Lords ruling in 2007, and I urge any constituents who are in that category to contact me or visit www.justice.gov.uk/about/pleural-plaques.htm for information on how to apply.