To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the House of Lords judgment in the case of Barker v. Corus UK Ltd. on future spending plans of his Department in respect of expenditure on compensation payments for those suffering from mesothelioma. (75765)

The ruling should enable the Department, in respect of claims against British shipbuilders, to pay our part of any compensation more quickly as we would not have to wait until all insurers had been found and agreed to their share of liability. The wider implications of this judgment are currently under review.