In the interests of good debate, and in recognition of the fact that no one party will ever have all the answers, this blog will from time to time step out of its comfort zone and invite contributions from elsewhere on the political spectrum. We are therefore pleased to announce a guest post from one of Labour’s “new generation”, John Park MSP.
Since 1999 the Scottish Parliament has taken positive and far reaching decisions on health issues – free personal care and the smoking ban are two that immediately spring to mind.
Perhaps not appreciated more widely is that our parliament also has a proud record in tackling the major problems faced by sufferers of asbestos-related diseases and by their families. These haven’t been health measures but rather justice measures. Most recently the Scottish Parliament agreed legislation to overturn a House of Lords decision that would have prevented workers exposed to asbestos from claiming against employers for developing pleural plaques (benign localised scars that can develop from exposure to asbestos).
And in 2006, following a Members Bill from Clydebank MSP Des McNulty, the Rights of Relatives to Damages (Mesothelioma) (Scotland) Act 2007 was introduced. Before our parliament passed this legislation, those affected by an asbestos related disease would have to make a choice between either making a claim for damages for their own pain and suffering, or waiting until they passed away – thus allowing their surviving family members to make a claim for loss. This change in legislation meant that they could claim for both, removing an agonising burden from sufferers and their families at a difficult time.
We have moved forward in terms of justice due to the vigorous campaigns run by local asbestos groups (particularly those established in the former shipbuilding communities on the Clyde) and the wider Scottish trade union movement. But another more troubling reason for the concentration on a justice approach to ensure that sufferers and their families are properly compensated – rather looking to advancements in health – has been the long-held view that a cure for asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis was virtually unattainable.
However there is growing evidence from across the globe that with intensive treatment patients can survive much longer than previously thought possible, and in some cases the cancer has gone into remission. I have met many people who have lost a family member to an asbestos-related disease and what is abundantly apparent is the desperation they all felt experienced knowing that there was no hope of their loved one living for more than a matter of months after diagnosis.
Asbestos related diseases are considered by some as from a time gone by: not as relevant in this new post-industrial era as they once were. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cases of asbestos related diseases have yet to peak in Scotland and many estimate that that peak will happen some time in the next 10 years. Furthermore, a danger continues to exist from exposure. Although it is not being used in the construction of buildings and engineering projects any longer in the UK, it can still be found in buildings and manufactured products that were built before the full effects of exposure to asbestos was known.
Worryingly, despite significant resources being invested by the Health and Safety Executive into campaigns highlighting the dangers of asbestos, over 88% of people working in industry are unaware that exposure can be fatal, and 74% have had no formal training in dealing with asbestos.
For all these reasons I believe that if we want to genuinely make Scotland a better place to live and work that we must establish and support a collaborative research network. This doesn’t need to be a physical building. A proposal last year by the All Party Group on Occupational Safety and Health at Westminster recommended the establishment of a National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases (NCARD) – based on an example from Australia. This was agreed by the then UK Government but unfortunately the new coalition has decided not to support it and have scrapped the plans. I also raised the importance of this proposal having support from the Scottish Government during a Members Debate in January of this year. Unfortunately this received a lukewarm response from the Scottish Government – probably driven by officials in the health department rather than Ministers.
We have the powers, we have the need and we have shown in the past that we have the political will to tackle difficult issues such as this. Yes, of course there would be financial considerations, but surely the insurance industry would support such a move both in policy and financial terms? If the prognosis for those suffering from an asbestos related disease was better and there was a chance of a cure surely we could encourage insurance companies to make the necessary investment to support such an initiative? I hope so, because asbestos is a persisting scourge on Scotland’s proud industrial heritage and one we must tackle now.
#1 by holyroodpatter on October 14, 2010 - 3:24 pm
As someone with two close relatives who suffer from asbestos related illnesses, one of whom had to get a laryngectomy (voicebox removal) operation, i agree broadly with what john says, although i think he misses the point a bit. John not believing the governments is adequate, is not the same as the coalitions flat out refusal to support it. To equate the two is slightly misleading. Giving the impression that it is simply dilligent backbenchers plowing a lone furrow is also untrue. Charitable bodies such as clydeside action on asbestos have helped numerous families, including my own.
#2 by Jeff on October 15, 2010 - 8:10 am
Thanks for the post John. I must confess to being one of the majority who believed this was largely yesterday’s problem and even thought so back in the day when they removed asbestos from our school. I guess the jokes at the time stemmed from a schoolboy invincible belief that we’d be as likely to pick up the bubonic plague as be affected by something as arcane as asbestos.
I don’t know how much said ignorance hinders the work you’re doing but I’m sure it doesn’t help.
And bubonic plague could be a real and present danger for all I know.
#3 by John Park on October 16, 2010 - 9:27 am
Ignorance is huge issue particularly in the home renovation market Jeff. I’ve had constituents contact me about work undertaken in their homes – usually former council houses – where asbestos has been disturbed and not discovered until months, even years, later.
Given that one fibre could be fatal you can imagine how much of a problem that might be. Awareness for workers is one aspect but I think making sure we improve the prognosis of people suffering from an asbestos related disease would give hope to thousands of people who have been exposed but don’t even know yet.
On the initial comment I certainly didn’t want give the impression that it was MSPs taking this forward in isolation (I know it isn’t – I was involved in this issue a long time before entering parliament) and you will see that I said:
“We have moved forward in terms of justice due to the vigorous campaigns run by local asbestos groups (particularly those established in the former shipbuilding communities on the Clyde) and the wider Scottish trade union movement.”
I think that is a pretty clear indication of the work done by Clydeside Action on Asbestos and the other groups.
The decision to cut support at UK level is part of the wider ideological approach by the ConDems in my opinion. The inaction so far from the Scottish Government despite requests from myself, the people behind the NCARD and many individuals is more to do with officials in the health department than Ministers but I think there is still a chance of support – hence my constructive approach!
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#4 by Tabby Steele on October 21, 2010 - 2:00 am
It’s very sad to hear people dismissing this and saying it’s a past problem. The latency period for Mesothelioma to develop can be decades. Someone exposed to asbestos in the 50’s or 60’s can be diagnosed now or in years to come. My dad was diagnosed with Mesothelioma 7 years ago and he could have been exposed to asbestos anytime in his life.
#5 by James on October 23, 2010 - 7:49 pm
Apparently a lot of ambulance-chasing American lawyers want to get in on the asbestos-related action, so we’ve had to block an awful lot of spam comments. Comments are therefore closed, but if you are a real human with something to say, please let us know.