Following a new Government consultation paper, those affected by conditions caused by the inhalation of asbestos could be entitled to up to £5,000.

This paper overturns a controversial ruling by the Law Lords last year, which stated that insurance companies were not liable for compensation. The “no fault” scheme has been introduced to speed up payouts to suffers of “pleural plaques” a condition that can lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Campaigners, however, are unhappy that calls to scrap the insurance company liability ruling altogether have been firmly rejected. This has also been met with outrage by politicians such a Labour MP Michael Clapham, who said:

“The disease is caused by negligent exposure to asbestos, which causes a physiological change, and the victim should be compensated.”

He continued:

“This is a working-class disease and there is no doubt that had it been a middle-class disease the judges would have contrived a way to pay compensation.”

Liverpool and the Wirral are considered to be hotspots for asbestos related illness, with reported cases of conditions occurring at higher than that average national level. In total, 1150 people died from Mesothelioma across the region from 1980-2005.

Among the areas worst affected were Ellesmere Port, Neston, Halton, Knowsley and Sefton. This is due to the region’s tradition of shipbuilding and heavy industry which over the years have led to high levels of asbestos exposure.

The death toll is expected to rise over the coming years, with experts predicting that as many as 2,450 related deaths could occur each year nationwide by the year 2015

Gina Simpson from specialist asbestos compensation claims company Aegis Law commented on the ruling by saying: “There are potentially thousands of people across the northwest who could be affected by conditions such as mesothelioma, as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.”

“If you think that you, or a loved one may be affected, call us today on: 0800-148-4747 where one of our friendly team will be happy to help you to claim what you are entitled to.