Fears have been raised that a few as 10% of people suffering
with pleural plaques will get compensation under a new scheme,
according to the Newcastle Chronicle.
This week, Justice Secretary Jonathan Djanogly told MPs that
around 6,500 will put in claims for the
asbestos diseases.
But according to documents submitted to Whitehall, the number of
people developing plaques could be as high as 90,000 every
year.
Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP for Jarrow, quizzed Mr Djanogly in
Parliament about the compensation scheme.
He asked: "What estimate has he made of the number of people
with pleural plaques eligible for compensation under the
extra-statutory scheme announced on February 22?"
And while Mr Djanogly said 6,500 would apply, a report by the
Industrial Illnesses Council, showed between 36,000 and 90,000
people develop
asbestos diseases each year.
Compensation for people with pleural plaques, a scarring of the
lungs, was scrapped in 2007.
But following a long campaign by MPs and unions, ministers have
decided to bring back the scheme, for those who already had their
claim put in.
Under the terms of the scheme, the coalition Government promised
to pay a fixed sum of £5,000 to those affected.