SUPREME COURT RULING ON DIANNE WILLMORE

That this House notes the Supreme Court judgement of 9 March 2011 that upheld that Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council negligently exposed Dianne Willmore to asbestos when she was a pupil at her secondary school; further notes with sadness that she died of mesothelioma aged 49 the day after the Appeal Court hearing; acknowledges the increasing numbers of school teachers who are dying of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma and that more than 140 died in the 10 year period from 1999 to 2008; believes that an assessment of the risk to children from asbestos exposure should be undertaken; and calls on the Government to commission such a study.