Construction union UCATT are disappointed that the government has been able to find billions of pounds to bail out the banks but seems unable to find just a few million pounds to compensate pleural plaques victims.

On Tuesday, the government announced that £33. 5 billion would be made available to further bail out the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

The decision over the bank bailout is in stark contrast to the government's delay in announcing whether it will overturn the Law Lords decision and reinstate compensation for pleural plaques victims, UCATT said.

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It is understood that if pleural plaques compensation was restored, the government would have to pay compensation amounting to £35 million a year to workers who were negligently exposed to asbestos while in its employment. The two main areas of government where workers were exposed to asbestos and are at risk of developing pleural plaques, were the former nationalised shipyards and the Ministry of Defence.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of Construction Union UCATT, said: "It is understood that the banks have to be bailed out for the good of the economy but former government employees whose health has been damaged by negligent exposure to asbestos are equally deserving of assistance.

"Compared to the banking bailout, the money needed to ensure justice for pleural plaques victims is peanuts."

(CD/KMcA)