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Shameless Tories block asbestos payout rise
Greedy insurance companies succeed in watering down asbestos compensation scheme

Greedy insurance companies have finally succeeded in watering down a vital new compensation scheme for workers suffering deadly asbestos-related mesothelioma, MPs protested yesterday.

Labour MPs welcomed the scheme, which starts in July, but complained that insurance companies had banked £1 billion as a result of the weak government stance on asbestos compensation.

Work and Pensions Minister Mike Penning led Tory and Lib Dem MPs into the voting lobbies on Tuesday night to squash last-ditch Labour amendments demanding improvements to the scheme.

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