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Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for what he has said about the Government’s efforts in this field. I am afraid that I cannot add much to what the Written Ministerial Statement says about this and what I said in my response to Amendment 1. As the noble Lord rightly sets out, there is a real problem. Steps need to be taken to improve the speed of payment of compensation claims for mesothelioma and other serious asbestos-related diseases. The Government think that it is imperative that steps are taken to this effect. As I said earlier, we are therefore establishing a working group composed of experts in this field, including claimants’ solicitors, trade unions—which have much experience representing their members—the insurance industry, the judiciary and civil servants, to examine litigation practices and procedures for compensation claims relating to mesothelioma and to identify options for streamlining them in order to reduce the time taken to conclude cases. The working group will also consider the need for changes to the substantive law. It is good to know that we will have the support of the noble Lord and his party in measures that are taken to hurry this along. As he rightly says, this is a serious matter on which action is needed. Clause 4 agreed. Clause 5 agreed. Bill reported with amendments.