Asbestos ruling goes in favour of payouts

Thousands of workers who have been exposed to asbestos were given new hope of compensation yesterday, as a high court judge ruled that insurers would have to pay out to those who have developed "pleural plaques" on their lungs if they had suffered from anxiety as a result.

The landmark ruling is a blow to the insurance industry, which was hoping to avoid having to pay any claims for pleural plaques. Asbestos-related claims are expected to cost the UK insurance industry up to £10bn over the next 40 years - of which pleural plaques will account for up to £1bn.

Medical evidence has shown that the development of pleural plaques - a small hardening on the side of the lung - does not have any detrimental effect on people's health, unlike most other asbestos-related conditions, some of which can be fatal.

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