The Government has announced plans to speed up the payment of compensation to mesothelioma sufferers. The disease, an aggressive form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure, can kill its victims quickly and sometimes compensation claims cannot be made in time for them to receive any money. The new proposals, announced by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions John Hutton, will mean that most mesothelioma sufferers can claim some compensation directly from the Government.
Under the current law, mesothelioma sufferers can only receive state compensation if the exposure to asbestos occurred at work. The new proposals would widen this to include:
- those who are exposed to asbestos by a family member;
- the self-employed;
- those who cannot trace the source of their exposure; and
- those exposed to asbestos in the environment.
It is intended that sufferers will be able to receive compensation within six weeks of their diagnosis, as long as they have not already received payments arising from personal injury claims. However, as yet no details are available as to the level of compensation that will be payable. It is anticipated that the scheme will be in place by next year.
Currently, state payments are not recovered from civil compensation payments. In order to fund the new scheme, the Government will set up a system to recover state compensation in these circumstances. At present, those found liable in civil personal injury claims often reduce the amount of the payout by the amount already provided by the state.
