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<p>The Mesothelioma Act 2014 established the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS).
The DMPS makes lump sum payments to people who contract diffuse mesothelioma from
negligent exposure to asbestos in the workplace, but are unable to pursue a civil
claim because their former employer no longer exists and their former employer’s insurer
cannot be traced. The DMPS is funded by a levy paid by insurers who are active in
the Employer’s Liability insurance market.</p><p><br>This Scheme makes payments to
eligible sufferers of diffuse mesothelioma only. Since this disease is always fatal
and always caused by asbestos, it has been possible to implement DMPS as a simple
payment scheme. Other asbestos-related diseases and other non-asbestos work related
diseases have more uncertainties regarding cause, severity and aggravation by other
factors and this complexity is not compatible with a straightforward tariff-based
scheme such as the DMPS. The report published on 6 December 2013 highlighted the adverse
impact on the amount of the levy should the scope of the Scheme be widened, which
would also require a re-designing of the scheme, the legislation, and the commercial
requirements.</p><p>There are no plans to update the 2013 report or extend eligibility
to the DMPS.</p>
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