UK Parliament / Open data

Mesothelioma Bill [HL]

It is always a dangerous thing to base it on a moral argument, particularly in this area. It is a differentiated industry. There is a group which we are now looking at to shoulder this. There was an enormous amount of negotiation in getting to this level of levy. That then feeds into the amount that we can pay eligible people. You could have an infinite amount of levy but if we went too high, the risk would be very clear. The genuine danger is that it would just go straight to British industry. Many of the insurers who will be paying it were not in business at the time or may have kept good records, so there is a differentiation within the industry.

If we could pay people more, of course we would. This is a balancing act and 70% is the compromise that we have arrived at after long negotiations. I hope that noble Lords can appreciate that there is a real achievement here in getting very substantial payments

to people who are eligible, if they are afflicted by this terrible disease. I urge the noble Lord to withdraw the amendment.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

745 cc265-6GC 

Session

2013-14

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords Grand Committee
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