Construction union UCATT have reacted with anger after it emerged that the Government intends to exclude unions from work on speeding up compensation payments to mesothelioma victims and their families.

On February 25th 2010 the then Justice Secretary Jack Straw promised to establish a working group to speed up compensation payments to mesothelioma victims, an incurable form of lung cancer caused by inhaling asbestos, as many victims die before compensation payments are made.

In a ministerial statement, Mr Straw, said: "The government believes it is imperative that steps are taken to improve the speed of payment for compensation claims for mesothelioma and other serious asbestos related diseases. We will therefore establish a working group composed of claimant solicitors, trade unions, insurers, the judiciary, and civil servants to examine litigation practices."


However in a parliamentary answer, in reply to a question by Stephen Hepburn MP, published on the last day of Parliament before the summer recess, it appears that unions will now be excluded from the process.

Jonathan Djanogly the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice said: "In particular, officials are currently undertaking scoping work to consider options to speed up and improve the claims process in relation to compensation claims for mesothelioma and will involve representatives from claimant solicitors, insurers and the judiciary."

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "To exclude the unions from this process is cynical and deliberate. It is designed to ensure that the process will not be speeded up. Unions are not interested in protecting profits or quibbling over points of law. We want to ensure that mesothelioma victims receive compensation as soon as possible, so that in their dying days they know their family will be provided for after they die."

(CD/GK)