§ Mr. David Jamieson (Plymouth, Devonport)I wish to present a petition on behalf of former naval personnel who were exposed to asbestos in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s but who cannot claim compensation because of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947. Many of these naval personnel are now suffering from terminal illness.
The petition reads:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The Humble Petition of the people of Plymouth and Devon Sheweth that naval veterans of the armed services are seeking redress for the serious illness caused by exposure to asbestos on the warships on which they served.Wherefore your Humble Petitioners pray that your honourable House will urgently investigate the situation of affected servicemen and take steps to ensure that they are adequately cared for.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.The petition was collected by the Plymouth Evening Herald which, as you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, is an excellent newspaper. It is signed by Bill Luck, a constituent of mine who is suffering from the effects of asbestos, and by Alan Cooper and Sharon Wright from the Evening Herald who have done so much to bring the matter to the public's attention in our area. It is also signed by 13,000 other people in the Plymouth area.
§ To lie upon the Table.