PRESS RELEASE
January 8th, 2009

Flooding blow

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil as welcomed the removal of another barrier on the road to justice for asbestos campaigners.

In March, the Scottish Parliament ruled that people with asbestos-related conditions like pleural plaques were able to pursue damages back compensation claims stayed on hold because insurance companies challenged the ruling in the courts.

Now the Court of Session has thrown out that challenge and allowed people

Mr McNeil said: "This ruling will benefit hundreds of people locally who have been battling to get compensation having been exposed to asbestos.

"It is important that another barrier has been removed in the road to justice for those suffering from pleural plaques.

"It was the will of the Scottish Parliament to put right this injustice and I am pleased that this predictable attempt to challenge that by the insurance companies has failed and they have been sent away with a flea in their ear."

The cross-party bill back in March overturned a House of Lords ruling that damages could not be claimed for pleural plaques, a benign scarring of the lungs.

ENDS