Yet another failure from Labour on pleural plaques promise
November 18, 2009 1:05 PM
Originally published by Greg Stone
Originally published by Greg Stone
Prospective Lib Dem MP for Newcastle East Greg Stone has berated the failure of the Labour government to honour its commitment to industrial workers on Tyneside suffering from pleural plaques as a consequence of exposure to asbestos in the shipbuilding and engineering industries.
Sufferers have been waiting years for the Government to deliver a compensation scheme following protracted legal battles and the decision of the Scottish Parliament to compensate those affected north of the border. However, the Labour government has failed to put a scheme in place, and many are now sceptical as to whether they will act before the General Election next spring.
Greg Stone said "I am very disappointed that there is no mention in the Queens Speech of doing the right thing for pleural plaques sufferers. In Scotland, MSPs are delivering for their constituents on this issue but despite posturing, Labour MPs in the North East have delivered nothing but empty promises so far."
"I believe that this demonstrates that this Labour government no longer cares about the interests of current and former industrial workers in Newcastle East. In recent years we have seen the destruction of the Tyne shipbuilding industry and more job losses at BAe Systems by the failure of the MoD to place orders here, increasing redundancies in the engineering sector at British Engines and Wellstream, and now a failure to deliver on the promised pleural plaques compensation scheme. Many will be questioning exactly what Nick Brown is doing to deliver on their behalf as Minister for the North East, other than claiming the highest expenses of any MP in the region."
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