Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am grateful for the three contributions to the debate that we have heard and for the support that I have received from many of my noble friends in the House for the ideas contained in the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Addington, referred to the fact that pleural plaques are largely asymptomatic and asked relevant questions about the medical evidence and the medical implications of pleural plaques. Obviously this issue can be considered in further detail in Committee; none the less, I refer the noble Lord to the information supplied by the House of Commons Library for the debate there on Wednesday 11 February, in which Members referred to studies of groups of patients with pleural plaques. These studies showed that where the plaques were thickened and widespread there was an increased risk of developing more serious asbestos-related diseases. However, when you know that someone has been exposed to asbestos, it is difficult to say whether the more serious disease develops because of the plaques or because of the exposure over a prolonged period of time to that substance.