Source: http://britishasbestosnewsletter.org/ban98.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 04:28:05+00:00

Document:
the ONS reported 11,011 mesothelioma deaths between 2010 and 2014; rates increased by 13% over this period; the areas with the highest number of mesothelioma deaths in 2014 were Birmingham (40), Sheffield (30), Leeds (32), Chester East (25) and Cornwall (24), with the highest age-standardised mortality rates recorded in Barrow-in-Furness (14.3), South Tyneside (11.1), North Tyneside (10.9) and Fareham (10).
The human repercussions of the national asbestos legacy are reflected by the size of the caseload of the specialist asbestos disease court at the Royal Courts of Justice. According to a presentation made by Master Eastman on September 16, 2015, this London-based fast-track system is on track to handle 16% more asbestos cases in 2015 (1,250) than it did in 2014 (1,074).
There is no doubt that the high visibility given to the national epidemic of asbestos-related diseases by the activities of the Forum has made a major impact on the legal and political climate in which decisions are made that affect the injured. The Forum has worked closely with civil society partners in the trade unions and campaigning bodies to keep asbestos issues high on the public agenda. Following discoveries in July 2015 of asbestos in childrens crayons imported to the U.S., a press release was issued by the Forum, the Joint Union Asbestos Committee and the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat that called for action by local authorities, government agencies and market surveillance bodies to: assure people that these products are not being sold here and [to] confirm the measures being taken to monitor imports from China and other countries to ensure that no products containing asbestos reach this country.17 Attempts to clarify current import surveillance procedures with the Home Office, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Trading Standards, the HSE Compliance Team and other government agencies have, to date, proved unenlightening.
Amongst jurisdictions in the United Kingdom, there has been a diverse response to the epidemic causing 5,000+ asbestos-related deaths per year. Access to medical care can vary from postcode to postcode while legal rights for people with the same disease in UK countries differ. A good case in point is the situation of pleural plaque sufferers. Until the ruling handed down on October 17, 2007 by the House of Lords in the case commonly referred to as Rothwell v. Chemical & Insulating Co. Ltd.,18 obtaining compensation for pleural plaques was more or less routine throughout the UK: from 1984-2005, County Court judgments awarding full and final compensation for pleural plaques ranged from �,000-�,000.19 With one fell swoop, this precedent was overturned and claimants were denied up to � million/year or �4 billion overall by a much-criticized verdict described as: an absolute scandal, unjust, and perverse. While Scotland20 and Northern Ireland21 took steps to restore the right of redress, England and Wales did not.
While the situation for Scottish pleural plaques victims is preferable to that for their English and Welsh counterparts, there are shortcomings as outlined in a new paper by Stirling Universitys Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group. This briefing was discussed at a meeting in the Scottish Parliament on September 8, 2015 attended by politicians, trade unionists, asbestos victims advocates and campaigners.24 The focus of the session was the flaws of the existing regime whereby insurance firms are buying off future compensation claims for pleural plaques for �000-�000. In return for a one-off payment, individuals at high risk of developing asbestos cancer are relinquishing the right to bring personal injury claims if they do.25 Recommendations to resolve negative impacts on claimants and their families including a stand alone pleural plaques payment which has no bearing on future legal actions were considered.
1 Lyons J, Shipman T. Asbestos scare may force out MPs. June 7, 2015.
Government must tackle the scourge of asbestos in schools to prevent unnecessary deaths of teachers and pupils, says teachers union. June 17, 2015.
2 Parliament: Asbestos: Written question  1032. June 9, 2015.
3 Victoria Derbyshire Show. BBC 2. June 17, 2015.
4 TUC backs campaign for asbestos removal bill. June 18, 2015.
5 Environment Agency. Asbestos audit final briefing  May 2015.
6 Jones, A. Take lead on asbestos in schools, Welsh government told. July 30, 2015.
7 Stonehenge contaminated with deadly asbestos after contractors accidentally dump soil. August 1, 2015.
8 HSE Press Release. Two companies fined for serious breaches in the removal of asbestos. August 19, 2015.
9 HSE releases annual workplace fatalities. July 1, 2015.
10 Kazan-Allen L. Conference Report: Freeing Europe Safely from Asbestos. September 1, 2015.
11 The footage shown featuring Andrew Burns was taken from a video produced by the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK entitled: Mesothelioma  The Human Face of an Asbestos Epidemic.
12 Kazan-Allen L. Action Mesothelioma Day 2015. July 9, 2015.
13 Administrative Court Order on the application of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK vs. the Lord Chancellor. July 3, 2015.
See also: Hyde J. Court levy U-turn for asbestos victims. July 3, 2015.
14 The Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum. Government gives way again over court costs in face of asbestos victims legal challenge. July 4, 2015.
See also: Victory for Mesothelioma victims over Court fees. July 3, 2015.
15 Supreme Court decision. Coventry and others (Respondents) v Lawrence and another (Appellants)  UKSC 50. July 22, 2015.
Supreme Court Press Summary. Coventry and others (Respondents) v Lawrence and another (Appellants)  UKSC 50. July 22, 2015.
16 Supreme Courts Judgment on Coventry v Lawrence. July 22, 2015.
17 Press Release. STOP Playing with Cancer. July 27, 2015.
18 Officially case  UKHL 39 on appeal from  EWCA Civ 27 was Johnston v. NEI International Combustion Ltd., Rothwell v. Chemical and Insulating Company Ltd., Topping v. Benchtown Ltd., Grieves v. F T Everard & Sons and others.
19 Kazan-Allen L. The End of UK Compensation for Pleural Plaques? November 2007.
20 Supreme Court confirms that pleural plaques are actionable in Scotland. October 27, 2011.
21 Legislation due on asbestos-related pleural plaques. December 5, 2011.
22 Kopylev, L et al. A systematic review of the association between pleural plaques and changes in lung function. December 12, 2014.
23 Kopylev, L et al. Authors response: A systematic review of the association between pleural plaques and changes in lung function. July 22, 2015.
24 Gorman T, McCourt J, Watterson A. Pleural plaques: obtaining social justice and equity in addressing compensation issues in Scotland. September 8, 2015.
25 Patersen, S. Stop firms buying off asbestos compensation claims says MSP. September 9, 2015.
26 Judgment in David Boyd v Gates Ltd., Scottish Agricultural Industries Ltd., National Grid PLC.
Ruff K. Judge dismisses motion to exclude evidence of scientists ties to asbestos lobby. September 16, 2015.
28 Kazan-Allen L. Thank you, Michael. September 8, 2015.
Kazan-Allen L. Blot on the Landscape. September 17, 2015.
30 Van den Borre L, Deboosere P. Enduring health effects of asbestos use in Belgian industries: a record-linked cohort study of cause-specific mortality (2001-2009). June 24, 2015.
31 Swiatkowska B, et al. Predictors of Lung Cancer Among Former Asbestos-Exposed Workers. June 22, 2015.
32 Wu WT, et al. Cancer Attributable to Asbestos Exposure in Shipbreaking Workers: A Matched-Cohort Study. July 20, 2015.
33 Mesothelioma UK. 10th Patient & Carer Day.

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