Mesothelioma report not “even-handed”

Personal injury lawyers have welcomed MPs’ finding that the government must consult again on its mesothelioma policy.

Mesothelioma claims were initially exempt from the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), but the exemption ended last December with the caveat that the government review the likely impact of LASPO on mesothelioma victims. The government reported in March.

A Justice Committee report last month concluded that the government did not prepare its report in a “thorough” or “even-handed” manner, and said it should repeat the process. It found the report “shoehorned” part of its review into a wider consultation, and expressed “surprise” that the government drew up a “heads of agreement” document with insurers.

Association of Personal Injury Lawyers president, John Spencer says: “We are relieved that the committee has called for informed consideration of the impact of LASPO and it would be unwise for the Ministry of Justice to proceed otherwise.”