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Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill

I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that I have no such statistics, but I think that they would be very useful. I have heard nothing in the debate so far that has shone any light on that area, although the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone has anecdotal evidence. I agree that it would be useful if anyone were prepared to collect such data. If it could be verified, it would make an important contribution to the whole debate. Let me continue with the remarks of Dr. John Moore-Gillon, who went on to say:"““My view on this issue represents what I believe to be the mainstream of opinion, and I do not know of any real dissent from this view amongst informed individuals in the asbestos field.””" He makes reference to various standard texts on the subject, one of which is ““Occupational Lung Disorders””, edited by W. R. Parkes, published by Butterworth-Hienemann, in which it is stated:"““Plaques themselves have no effect on life expectancy, and are not known to give rise to any complications””." I have quoted lawyers and clinicians, but I personally place more weight on what clinicians—people who have dedicated their lives to relieving suffering in this area—have to say. I welcome the suggestion that we should collect more data to ascertain what happens over time to people who have plaques. I quite accept the worry and concern caused and I also accept that we should all be able to go to work and come away at the end of the day or at the end of our working lives without being impaired in any way. I well understand where hon. Members, particularly Labour Members, are coming from on this matter, but we must proceed according to the clinical evidence. Where that clinical evidence exists, I for one would be very happy to press the Government for compensation.