Brown makes plaques promise

Insurers should be worried about more than a chocolate hangover after Easter. During a recent prime minister’s questions session, Gordon Brown said the government would make a statement on pleural plaques after the holiday – and his message could be considered a jab at insurers.

In response to a question from MP Stephen Hepburn, Gordon Brown said: “Asbestosis is a terrible disease, and all those who suffer from it deserve the best of help from the public authorities.

“It is right that we look again at this as a result of legal actions that have been taken about the obligations of insurance companies. The justice secretary will make a statement on this when we return after Easter.”

The thing is, while pleural plaques – symptomless growths on the lungs – are considered harmless, they still signal exposure to asbestos. And exposure to asbestos also causes deadly lung cancer.

Medical evidence has shown pleural plaques don’t lead to lung cancer but even just developing plaques – and knowing your employer put you at risk – is an emotive issue. And when something is emotive, it’s bound to be political.

A group of MPs has been lobbying for pleural plaques to be compensable. Added to this, the Scottish government has passed a bill making plaques compensable. Now, the UK government is preparing to take its own stance on the issue. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it followed Scotland’s lead.