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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Monday, 7 July 2008. It occurred during Debates on delegated legislation on Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations 2008.


Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations 2008

My Lords, I, too, welcome this new mesothelioma scheme, which, as the Minister said, is expected to help up to 600 people who do not currently receive help from the Government, with a payment estimated at £10,000 during the first two years of the scheme’s operation. My two questions are very much like those of the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale. I was struck by the note in the Explanatory Memorandum that a press release was to be issued. That did not seem to me to be enough. Would it not be worth mounting a press advertising campaign to ensure that everyone entitled to claim has the opportunity to do so? However, I, too, noted the Minister’s further explanation of how this would be sent to lung cancer centres. My second question relates to the same part of the Explanatory Memorandum, where it tells us that the department’s leaflet, Help and Advice for People with Mesothelioma, will be updated by early 2009 to contain references to the new scheme. Why will it take so long? Surely a new leaflet should be made available by the end of this summer at the latest.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
703 c581 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Compensation Asbestos Industrial diseases Payments Mesothelioma
Legislation
Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979
Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations 2008
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk