Winner of the fourth non-government Members’ Bill ballot announced

20 March 2012

The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, Rosemary Butler AM, has announced the winner of the fourth non-government Member’s Bill ballot.

The successful Member, Mick Antoniw AM, will now be able to have a debate by the Assembly on the proposal for an Asbestos (Recovery of Medical Costs) Bill. The debate will decide whether or not he will be allowed to introduce a Bill to give effect to the proposal.

The proposal states:

• The objective of the Bill is to enable the Welsh Government, on behalf of the NHS in Wales, to recover the costs of medical treatment and care provided to patients in Wales who have sustained Asbestos disease (Mesothelioma, Pleural Plaques, Pleural thickening , lung cancer and other associated diseases) and have achieved a civil settlement or judgement in or out of court from an employer or other body, corporate or incorporate .

• This Bill is brought under the Health competency of the National Assembly of Wales pursuant to the Government of Wales Act 2006.

A debate on whether to allow the proposal to proceed as a Bill must now take place during Plenary by 30 May 2012.

“In Wales there are many people whose life has been blighted by Asbestos disease,” said Pontypridd AM Mick Antoniw.

“Several thousand people in the UK die from asbestos disease eachyear. In most cases this has been caused by exposure to asbestos during their employment.

“Usually the liability for this disease is covered by their employer’s insurance.

“Thisbill aims to assist a hard-pressed NHS to recover the costs of the medical treatment from a negligent employer or insurance company.

“I wouldhope this will enable a fund to be created to provide additional medical and palliative support to asbestos disease victims."