Public consultation opens on Asbestos Bill

07 December 2012

A National Assembly Committee has launched a public consultation on the Recovery of Medical Costs for Asbestos Disease (Wales) Bill.

The Health and Social Care Committee is considering the Bill, which is at the first stage of the legislative process.

This stage examines general principles such as whether a law is necessary or whether the objective can be achieved through current legislation, and whether the wording of the Bill will achieve its stated aims.

The Bill has been proposed by Mick Antoniw AM and the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies it states:

“The Bill’s aim is to enable the Welsh Ministers to recover from a compensator (being a person by or on behalf of whom a compensation payment is made to or in respect of a victim of asbestos-related disease), certain costs incurred by the NHS in Wales in providing care and treatment to the victim of the asbestos-related disease.”

“The human costs of asbestos-related illnesses are apparent and the effects are still being felt in communities across Wales,” said Mark Drakeford AM, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee.

“In considering this Bill, the Committee will want to hear from all those who have a view on this important legislative initiative.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the consultation can either email: legislationoffice@wales.gov.uk or write to: Clerk to the Health and Social Care Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.

The closing date for submissions is 10 January 2013.