Lords Grand Committee
28 October 2026
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Lords Grand Committee House of Lords
Follow its sittings00:03 - 00:30
Speaker 2
In the event of a division in the chamber while we're 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 number two regulations 2026. This will be debated with one other instrument. Baroness Sherlock.
00:30 - 03:06
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 number two regulations 2026 and the draft Mesothelioma lump sum payments conditions and amounts amendment number two 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. The 2008 Act scheme provides support to people with diffuse mesothelioma quickly at their time of greatest need. Although both schemes aim to provide compensation to sufferers within their lifetime, each scheme also allows for claims by dependents if the person suffering the disease sadly dies before they're able to make a claim. This is in recognition of the suffering these diseases can bring to whole families. My Lords, these regulations make changes to both schemes, the most significant of which relate to awards for dependents and the treatment of claims where a claimant dies before payment can be made.
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