Lords Grand Committee
28 October 2026
Contents updated on 29 Oct 2026
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Lords Grand Committee Actual start House of Lords
Follow its sittings45:27 - 45:54
Speaker 2
In the event of a division in the chamber while we are sitting, the committee will adjourn as soon as the division bells are rung and resume after 10 minutes. Pneumoconiosis etc. Workers' Compensation (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026. This will be debated with one other instrument. Baroness Sherlock.
45:54 - 47:51
Speaker 1
My Lords, I beg to move that the Grand Committee do now consider the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 and the draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026. My Lords, the schemes we're debating today provide vital support to people who've developed certain dust-related diseases, often caused by occupational exposure to asbestos and other harmful dusts. This includes diseases such as pneumoconiosis and mesothelioma. We all recognize the devastating impact these diseases can have on individuals and their families, so I'm grateful to have the opportunity to debate these schemes and the reforms we're making to ensure they continue to provide effective support. I'd like to begin by providing a brief overview of these two no-fault compensation schemes and what these regulations seek to amend.
The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 scheme, henceforth the 1979 Act scheme, provides a single lump sum compensation payment to eligible individuals who suffer from one of the diseases covered by the scheme.
This includes diffuse mesothelioma, pneumoconiosis, and three other dust-related respiratory diseases. The scheme was designed to compensate people who were unable to claim damages from former employers because they'd gone out of business, and who had not brought any civil action against another party for damages. To be entitled to a lump sum award, claimants must have an industrial injuries disablement benefit award for a disease covered by the 1979 Act scheme, or would have an award but for their percentage disablement. The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payment scheme, or the 2008 Act scheme, was introduced to provide compensation to people who contracted diffuse mesothelioma but who were unable to claim compensation through the 1979 Act scheme. For example, they may be self-employed, or their exposure to asbestos was not due to their work.
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