Personal injury solicitors said they were 'disappointed' this week by the government's decision not to reverse last October's House of Lords ruling on pleural plaques.


The court ruled last year that people who have developed the condition after exposure to asbestos at work cannot sue employers for damages.



Following a Westminster Hall debate last week, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said it was inappropriate to overturn a unanimous judgment. But she added that she was 'happy' to hold 'discussions' on how to help and support sufferers.



A spokeswoman for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers said it was disappointed by the decision, but 'encouraged by the minister's statement that "the door has not yet been closed" on the issue.



Pleural plaques are a symptom-less condition that can signal the presence of asbestos fibres.



Anita Rice