A Bill to amend the Mesothelioma Act 2014 has been introduced into the House of Lords by the cross-bench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool.
The Bill proposes an amendment to section 13 of the 2014 Act which requires active insurers to pay a levy with a view to meeting the costs of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme.
The scheme is in place to compensate individuals with Diffuse Mesothelioma who were exposed to asbestos either negligently or in breach of statutory duty by their employers, and who are unable to bring a claim for compensation against the employer or that employers Employer’s Liability insurer.
In addition to meeting the costs of this scheme, Lord Alton’s Bill states that regulations must also provide for the levy to include a research supplement. Although not specifically stated within the Bill, one would assume the intended use of the supplement would be for research into mesothelioma.
The next stage the Bill must go through before being passed is the ‘second reading stage’. This is where the main principles and purpose of the Bill are debated by members of the House of Lords. A date has not yet been set for this.
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