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Welcome to the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK (AVSGF)

For advice on benefits and compensation and support for sufferers of asbestos disease and their families contact Forum Members

Action Mesothelioma Day Friday 1st July 2011

Click here to read the Press Release for Action Mesolthelioma Day 2011

For more information please click here...

For a report on all the AMD events please click here...

21st June 2011
Government Bill hits compensation
The Legal aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill contains provisions to make personal injury claimants bear legal costs which are currently borne by the losing party. This means that sufferers of asbestos diseases will have to pay legal costs out of their compensation. This will have a serious impact on access to justice because may people will be deterred from making a claim. We will be joining with other organisations to campaign against the provisions of this Bill. 

To access our press release click here

To access the Bill click here

15th April
Quebec Government agrees in principle to fund the expansion of the Jeffrey asbestos mine
The government of Quebec has decided to ignore the pleas of human rights advocates, hundreds of public health experts worldwide and one of the province's largest unions and says it will fund the expansion of Canada's last asbestos mine.
http://www.sherbrookerecord.com/content/view/611910/27/

20th April
Scottish and Northern Ireland Pleural Plaques cases to go to the Supreme Court:
The Scottish Court of Sessions has upheld the Scottish Parliament’s right to enact legislation to pay pleural plaques sufferers. However, the case is to be appealed by the insurers to the Supreme Court.

March 2011

Landmark Supreme Court Judgment on low exposure to asbestos
On the 9th March, the Supreme Court upheld the judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal in favour of Diane Wilmore and Enid Costello who died from mesothelioma due to low exposures to asbestos. The Supreme Court ruled that the current test that only requires a 'material risk of developing mesothelioma' should stand in such cases. For the Forum press release click here...

March 2011

Landmark Supreme Court Judgment on low exposure to asbestos
On the 9th March, the Supreme Court upheld the judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal in favour of Diane Wilmore and Enid Costello who died from mesothelioma due to low exposures to asbestos. The Supreme Court ruled that the current test that only requires a 'material risk of developing mesothelioma' should stand in such cases. For the Forum press release click here...

December 2010...

MPs and delegation hand in letter to Prime Minister click here

The Lancet exposes Quebec's hypocrisy - click here

Pictures of the London protest 9th Dec -click here

Asian Delegation Press Release  click here

The Asian Delegation Speaks to the World  click here

India: Ex-Asbestos miners' hunger strike to demand disclosure of medical records   click here

9th December Quebec Jeffrey Asbestos Mine Protest
A protest will be held outside Canada House, London, and in many other capital cities, on the 9th December, to coincide with an Asian delegation to Quebec to protest at the planned expansion of the Quebec Jeffrey asbestos mine.

For information see the flyer.....link

LATEST - OCTOBER 8TH 2010

Disastrous Court of Appeal "Tigger Case" Decision
The Court of Appeal handed down a judgment on the 8th October which allows insurers to argue that their insurance premium is only triggered at the time a mesothelioma sufferer develops the disease. This will rob compensation from thousands of asbestos victims and create huge uncertainty and distress for all.

Our Press Release can be found here

Remembering Nancy Tait MBE Hon DUniv
Obituary

Michael Lees receives prestigous awards for his work on asbestos in schools  view here

A protest was held on Canada Day, 1st July, to shame Canada for its continued export of asbestos to developing countries, and especially for the Quebec government’s proposed loan guarantee of $58 million for a new asbestos mine, the Jeffrey mine, which will produce more than 200,000 tonnes of asbestos a year for the next 25 to 50 years.
In the meantime, the Canadian Government is assisting the opening of the Jeffrey mine for one month to attract international investment and it is understood that UK and Indian companies are interested in visiting the mine. A joint press release has been issued condemining any investment in the Jeffrey mine.

Canada Day Protest Press Release . . . . view here

Photo of Canada Day Protest ..... view here

Joint Press Release ......  view here

Forum Tribute to Michael Clapham MP view here

Pleural Plaques

The Coalition Government has honoured the Labour Government's committment to pay £5000 to pleural plaques sufferers who had made a claim for compensation prior to the Law Lord's ruling on the 17th October 2007. This is an extra statutory payment and no charge should be made by any solicitor for providing evidence that a claim had been registered prior to the 17th October 2007. We would urge anyone who has been charged by a solicitor to contact us.

For details on who is eligible for a payment please click here

Click here for more details about the campaign.

10th February, 2010 _ Government to set up an Insurance Fund of Last Resort

The government has announced a consultation on setting up a fund of last resort for injured workers who cannot trace their employers' liability insurers. This consultation is immensley important. . . . . more

The Health and Safety Executive launch a new £1.2million Asbestos: Hidden Killer campaign

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a campaign to warn maintenance workers of the dangers of asbestos in buildings today.
The campaign aims to aims to raise awareness of the risks posed by asbestos and how workers can protect themselves.
Across Britain, around 20 tradesmen die from asbestos diseases every week and the numbers are increasing. Workers most at risk of exposure to asbestos are those most likely to disturb or damage it such as plumbers, joiners and electricians.

Mike Cross, HSE’s North West Head of Construction, said: “Asbestos is Britain’s biggest industrial killer . . . . Contrary to what many people believe, the risks are not a thing of the past. Asbestos-related illnesses claim the lives of 4,000 people every year — more than die in road accidents.

For information about the campaign go to:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm

For information about essential precautions to prevent exposure to asbestos at work go to:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/index.htm

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit . . . The case for disregard

It seems utterly perverse that asbestos victims in receipt of IIDB, dying from mesothelioma, should have their means-tested benefits cut for the short period of their remaining lives.
The Asbestos Victim Support Groups Forum have produced a booklet putting the case for a disregard of IIDB in respect of means-tested benefits. To read the booklet . . . view .

The government has announced that it will now allow T&N claimants to keep lump sum payments as well as the small payments from the T&N Funds. This welcome decision was announced on the 13th February. . . . more

February 2009_Call for government funding for mesothelioma research centre.

Mesothelioma sufferers will gather on Friday, February 27 to call for the government to invest millions in research to treat the devastating asbestos related disease, Mesothelioma is the least researched of the top twenty cancers.....
For the Forum Press Release please . . . click here