Asbestos-Related Diseases (Compensation)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 8:53 pm on 30 April 2001.

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Photo of Michael Clapham Michael Clapham Labour, Barnsley West and Penistone 8:53, 30 April 2001

My hon. Friend explains, in effect, that the scandal was created by Iron Trades dumping its asbestos liabilities in Chester Street Holdings, leaving insufficient assets to meet them. As my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) explained, those liabilities are in respect of the ordinary person who is the victim of asbestos from his workplace. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need to ensure that that cannot happen again? It is clearly a scandal and, if we do not act, it is likely recur because insurers want to get rid of asbestos claims. That is precisely what Iron Trades did—it dumped its asbestos liabilities.