Local MP Katy Clark has called for a change to Employers’ Liability Insurance law to ensure more workers who develop a disease as a result of negligence are able to claim compensation that they are entitled to. Currently thousands of workers and families are missing out as whilst employer may have paid insurance premiums at the time when a worker was been exposed to a dangerous substance if a disease takes many years to develop, as is the case with certain cancers such as mesothelioma, insurers can not be traced. The Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran has called for a fund for where insurers can not be traced to be set up, similar to that which exists for untraced drivers and also for a national database for insurance certificates so in future such instances do not occur.

Speaking on the subject Ms Clark said “I am very concerned to hear of cases of workers who have developed serious illnesses as a result of negligence in the workplace being unable to claim compensation due to being unable to trace an insurer. Mesothelioma, which is often caused by exposure to Asbestos, usually kills a suffer within 18 months of being diagnosed and I believe individuals who develop diseases such as these and their families need to be able to receive all the compensation which they are entitled to during what will undoubtedly be a particularly difficult and traumatic time.”

“I believe the Government and insurance industry need to come together and look at ways to ensure that these people are able to properly protected when an insurer can not be found” The local MP has signed EDM 219 calling for a register of insurers to be set up.