Members’ Business: Action Mesothelioma Day 2026 - 25 June 2026

Can members leave the chamber quietly, please? >> Thank you. Our final item of business today is a debate on motion 343 in the name of Marie McNair on action metheloma day 2026. And the debate will be concluded without any questions being put. I request all members who wish to speak to press the request to speak button now. And I call on Marie Marie McNair to open the debate. Uh seven minutes, please. Thank you, presiding officer. This is the fifth year that I've managed to secure a debate to mark Lisi Filma Day. My determination to secure truth and justice for asbesus victims and their families will never w and can I thank those members who have supported my motion and those who are speaking in today's debate. This is an issue that deserves cross party support and once again that has been achieved. I also invite parliament to welcome members of the claybank asbesus group and uh asbestous action t-side and a special mention to Christine sers uh my local hero from Claybank aspis group who will be visiting the parliament again on Saturday. For decades they have stood beside individuals and families at their time of greatest need. They provide not only advice and support but also a voice ensuring that those affected are heard within this parliament and beyond. Since my debate last year, we have sadly lost two central figures in the fight for truth and justice. David Corin, founding member of the Clybank asbestous group and former MP for Clybank and Mogai, Tony Worththingington, who sadly passed away earlier this year. They were a real driving force behind the pursuit for truth and justice for as best as victims. True giants whose legacy and impact has been felt throughout Clay Bank and beyond. Unfortunately, presiding officer, every year I have mentioned individuals we have lost. For them and for many unheard victims of as best as exposure, we must see progress and secure justice. Mephiloma is a rare but devastating cancer mostly caused by exposure to asbestas. Across the United Kingdom, there are around 2,700 new cases each year, including more than 200 here in Scotland. But statistically alone cannot convey the reality of this disease. In my hometown of Claybank, this issue is deeply personal. Claybank has paid one of the heaviest prices anywhere in the United Kingdom for as best as exposure. Western Bartonshire has some of the highest misphilyoma mortality rates in the country. Over a period of nearly 40 years, 295 men died from misphiloma where only 81 deaths would have been expected. That gives one of the highest mortality rates anywhere in the UK. But even though these start figures do not tell the whole story, women are in our area have also been significantly affected with more than a double the expected number of deaths recorded over the same period. These are not abstract figures. These represent hundreds of families in one community who have lost loved ones. Claybank was once described as a meloma capital of Europe and it's a title no community would ever wish to hold and one that speaks directly to our industrial past ship building, manufacturing and construction industries that built our nation but an enormous human cost. And that cost was not inevitable. For decades, workers were exposed to asbestous fibers, often daily, often without protection, and too often without being advised of the risks. Evidence has since shown that companies were aware of dangers long before meaningful protections were put in place. As campaigners are rightly said, this was not simply an accident of history. It was a profound failure to protect workers. I say in the strongest terms, knowingly exposing people to a deadly substance without adequate safeguard is not neglect. It is an abortant criminal act. Presiding officer, the legacy of asbestice is not confined to the past. It continues to affect people across the United Kingdom today. Around 5,000 people still die each year from asbestous related disease making it the single single biggest cause of work rellated death and asbestous is still present in the buildings around us. In Scotland alone, more than 1,700 schools are known to contain asbestas and there have been uh cases of teachers, people with no connection to heavy industry developing misciloma after exposure in their workplaces and that is why we need to see the phased removal of asbestous and public buildings starting with our schools. We must also address the issue of justice. And I've campaigned hard about what I described as the disgraceful three-year time bar which has denied justice to some victims of asbestous related disease. Under current law, the an individual diagnosed with a relatively minor condition such as pluropla may have just three years to raise a claim even though they may not go on to develop misphiloma until decades later. The nature of asbesis related disease makes this time limit totally unjust and it is welcome that the Scottish law commission recognized this issue and proposed reforms. I met with the first minister and other members of the government to stress the urgent need to implement these reforms and I want to see the earliest possible progress on this. Presiding officer despite the scale of the challenge there is also resilience. Again and again, I've met individuals who, even in the face of a devastating diagnosis, choose to campaign not for themselves, but for others. And that selflessness speaks volumes about the strength of our communities. It also places responsibility on all of us because we cannot simply reflect on this issue. We must act. We must continue to raise awareness of misophiloma and asbestous related disease. And we must support research so that we can improve treatment and outcomes. And we must ensure that compensation is fair and accessible, removing barriers such as a time bar. And critically, we must prevent future exposure. That means properly managing as best as where it remains and progressing towards its safe removal from public buildings, including our schools. Misphiloma is a disease rooted in our industrial history but its impact is still being felt today in clay bank across Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom. It reminds us of the human cost of that history and it reminds us of a responsibility to those who have been affected. Unfortunately, mephiloma is not just a disease of the past. Far from it. In 2023 alone, 2,28 people in the UK died from a stark and sobering reminder that this disease continues to take lives every single year. In communities like mine in Clay Bank, that reality is not distant. It's still being felt, still being heard, and still being lived. Families continue to face loss. People continue to receive this diagnosis. and the risks that cause this harm have not yet been fully removed from the world around us. Therefore, this is not a closed chapter. It is a continuing responsibility. A responsibility to act where we know risk remains. A responsibility to ensure justice where it has been denied and a responsibility to prevent future generations from facing the same fate. Because the burden carried by communities like Cly Bank has been far too great for far too long. And while we cannot change what has happened, we can decide what happens next. And the future of this issue, whether it remains a story of harm or becomes a turning point for action, is in our hands. Therefore, our purpose must recognize the scale of this legacy and recognize our duty to address it. And in the years that come, it can be said not only that we understood the consequences of his bestas, but that we chose to act decisively and bring them to an end. Thank you. >> I call Pauline Stafford to be followed by Jackie Bailey. >> Thank you, presiding officer. I'd like to thank Marie McNair for her long-standing commitment to this cause and for bringing this important debate to the chamber ahead of action misotheloma day 2026. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to speak today as I have a close relative in England who was diagnosed with plural misotheloma two years ago. Now I also represent the Bathgate constituency which was home to a wide range of heavy industry where asbestos use was endemic and which has also been at the forefront of securing justice with landmark legal cases like that of the Atlas steel foundry in the town of Armadale in my constituency helping to shape asbestos liability in Scotland. At the point of my relatives diagnosis, even family members who had heard of misotheloma had little idea of what living with the illness would mean. For a cancer which disproportionately affects communities where heavy industry was present and which can have such a long latency period. Raising awareness of misotheloma will enable those with symptoms to present earlier and in the case of diagnosis for patients to be moved as soon as possible onto the best specialist care pathways in order that their quality of life can be maximized which I'm pleased to say is the case for my relative. Whilst we are fortunate in Scotland to have such a strong misotheloma treatment infrastructure, Scotland's industrial past and the historical prevalence of industries here with a heavy asbestos use mean that we also have a disproportionately high number of cases. Which is why I commend all that the Scottish Misotheloma Network is doing to improve patient care throughout Scotland. My family knows from our experience the massive difference that treatment by a specialist misotheloma team makes not only to the medical outcomes but in terms of mental well-being and everyday quality of life. It is essential that everyone diagnosed with misotheloma is able to benefit from specialist treatment wherever they are and whatever their background. To that end, the drive to foster cooperation between treatment hubs as well as research institutions is welcome and it is essential to ensure that patients everywhere are able to benefit from the latest treatments. Today we are seeing fantastic innovative research on the condition working to improve outcomes for outcomes for msotheloma patients including the development of new more effective therapies and better drug delivery treat techniques. We must also acknowledge that we are able to have this debate today due to generations of campaigners who have worked tirelessly for decades to raise awareness and achieve justice for those affected by asbestos related disease and who have had to fight hard to hold companies in the asbestos industry to account. The industrial use of asbestos may be a thing of the past, but the legacy of it still hangs over many of those who worked with it today. Every member across this chamber will mark International Workers Memorial Day in their own constituencies to mourn those who have lost their lives and to fight for safer conditions for workers today. And we must be guided by this message. Remember the dead, but fight for the living. These cannot be just words. The memory of historical injustice must drive our actions today, tomorrow, and every day after. As future generations deserve to live without fear of asbestos related illness. However, with patients generally contracting misotheloma decades after exposure to asbestos, it will continue to be necessary to build the medical and support infrastructures needed to deal with it as well as other complex and incurable conditions caused by asbestos. I want to thank Marie McNair once more for bringing this debate to the chamber today. We must continue to raise awareness for this cancer and continue improving outcomes for those affected by a legacy that should never have been theirs to bear. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Call Jackie Bailey to be followed by Helen McDeed. >> Thank you, presiding officer. Can I congratulate Marie McNair on bringing this motion to the chamber um and her consistent championing of this cause as best was finally completely banned in 1999, the same year that this parliament was established. And whilst it might be tempting therefore to associate it with industries of the past and 20th century buildings, it remains a feature today. Strikingly, the nature of misotheloma is such that because it makes itself known decades after the first interaction with asbestosis, we may not yet even have reached the peak of cases. So Scotland's history as a shipbuilding nation means that Scots have suffered disproportionately from asbestos related illnesses such as misotheloma. There are around 200 diagnosis in Scotland every year and the figure isn't going down. And while ship builders and tradesmen may be the most affected, their wives and children may also have been exposed to asbestous dust. And of course, all families are impacted by a loved one's diagnosis. So the members of Clyde Bank asbestous group, some of who are listening here today, have done incredible work campaigning for the rights of these patients and their families to get compensation. Writing past wrongs is another reason asbestous related conditions are very much an issue today. Cape Intermediate Holdings was one of the largest asbestos companies in the world. Yet, when the dangers of Asbestos first became apparent, Cape downplayed the risks and withheld their own data, putting profits before lives. Today, Cape is owned by the construction engineering company Altrad, which operates across the world, and its UK armor loan made a pre-tax profit of 37.3 million pounds in the year to August 2025. Campaigners are calling for Altrad on behalf of Cape to donate a mere 10 million pounds for much needed research about misotheloma. Yet so far presiding officer their calls have gone unanswered. Then there is the time bar rightly raised by Marie McNair which means that someone diagnosed with an asbestous related condition only has three years to claim compensation. In practice, that means somebody diagnosed with asymptomatic um conditions such as plural plaques who develop misotheloma maybe five years later would not be able to claim even though both conditions were caused by asbestous. The Scottish Law Commission recommended helpfully removing the time bar in 2024. Yet the last parliament did not legislate for it. I hope the Scottish government will make this an urgent priority for this parliamentary session. Then there is the fact that many public buildings may still contain asbestos which becomes dangerous when disturbed. The Scottish Borders Council, I understand, is facing a 2.5 million bill to remove asbestous from their schools. So I wonder in that context whether national support is available from the Scottish government to assist councils in this position and like Marie McNair and I want to echo her comments. I would like to end by paying my respects to two people. Firstly, Tony Wthingington, the former MP for Clyde Bank and Mulgai, who passed away this year, but he tirelessly campaigned to bring this issue to the attention of decision makers at Westminster. He also fought for compensation on behalf of countless individual constituents. And this year, we also lost David Kulra who founded the Clyde Bank asbestous group with others in 1992. As the tribute to him noted, David was a man who didn't just feel sad or angry about the injustice he saw. He actually did something about it. And we can all be inspired by David and support the work of the group he helped to found. Thank you. >> Call Helen McDade to be followed by Colum Merrick. >> Thank you very much, deputy presiding officer. Uh and I apologize for joining slightly late. Um, I'm mainly speaking on behalf of Julie McDougall. I would say I have an interest myself in that I didn't know either of these people because they died so long ago, but both my grandfathers were minors. Both died, one very young and the others soon after retiring of lung disease. I don't know whether they were diagnosed or not, but it seems likely that this was a contributory factor. However, I'm here today to speak on behalf of Julie McDougall, uh, my colleague who unfortunately is taken ill. I'm sure everyone joins me in hoping she is recovers quickly. And she very much wanted to be here. So I'd like to just read out about Julie's father. Um some people would have known him. Uh Julie's father was John McDougall and he was a British Labor politician who served as an MP for Glen Rothus from 2005 until his death. Um and he was first elected to the House of Commons of Central F in 2001. In 2007 he was diagnosed with malignant misotheloma and due to his illness his participation in parliament became fleeting although he remained an MP until his death the following year. He had major surgery before that with a lung removed uh and uh came from working in the shipyards. So for Julie this of course would have been a debate she would very much want to have been in. And I'd like to assure uh Mary McNair and others that uh we will be interested in co cooperating with any move to take this forward. Um and yes, thank you very much for bringing the debate. Thank you. >> Call Coler to be followed by Carol Morgan. >> Thank you presiding officer. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today's debate marking action metheloma day 2020 2026. I understand it's a long-standing tradition to mark this date each year here in the Scottish Parliament. So can I begin by thanking Marie McNair for continuing this tradition and highlighting this issue. One I may say she has truly made her own and I pay tribute to her long-standing dedication, commitment and leadership on this very important issue over many years now. As we've heard, action meaththeloma day provides us with an opportunity not only to raise awareness of this devastating disease, but [snorts] also to renew our commitment to those living with its consequences and to the families who continue to suffer because of asbestous exposure. We've already heard that around 2,700 people across the UK are diagnosed each year, including around 200 people here in Scotland. And I would like us to pause for a moment to reflect on this to reflect on the fact that behind these figures every one of those diagnosis is an individual a family and a community whose lives have been changed forever. Last year's action meaththeloma day debate also highlighted the fact that the face of meaththeloma is changing. When many people still associate asbestous related disease with traditional heavy industries such as ship building, construction and engineering, we're increasingly seeing cases among women, younger people and workers in occupations not historically considered high risk. teachers, health care workers, clerical staff and others have developed meaththeloma following exposure that they neither expected nor understood at the time. And that reality serves as a stark reminder that the legacy of asbestosis is far from over. And for that, I want to take this action to recognize the tremendous work of action on asbestous 2. formerly known as Claybank Asbestous Group which as the name change suggests is also facing up to the new realities for the support, advice and advocacy they have and continue to provide for those affected by asbestous related conditions for more than three decades. Their dedication has been invaluable to countless families and they continue to be a powerful voice for justice and accountability. also pay tribute to the wider grassroots campaigners who continue to fight for victims and their families such as the Cape Mustay campaign mentioned today which rightly highlights the need for greater corporate responsibility and continues to call for meaningful investment in meaththeloma research. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of grassroots activism in driving change and ensuring that those affected are not forgotten, never forgotten. Presiding officer, one issue that remains a significant concern is the injustice created by the current time bar arrangements affecting some messthelom theoma victims. Already heard a bit about this. Uh as was discussed in last year's debate, there are circumstances in which individuals who have previously pursued claims relating to asytomatic asbestous related conditions may find themselves prevented from seeking further damages if they later develop meaththeloma, a terminal and life-threatening illness. The Scottish Law Commission's report on damages for personal injury recognized this problem and made clear recommendations to address it. I welcome that work and the growing consensus that reform is needed to ensure that people are not denied justice because of a legal technicality. And should Marie McNair bring forward legislation to address this issue, she will have my full support and I guess the support of the entire cabinet and and and parliament. Those affected by metheloma deserves fairness, dignity and access to justice and we should work together across this parliament to ensure that the law reflects those principles. As action methyloma day approaches on the 3rd of July, I encourage people across Scotland to get involved in the events taking place in communities throughout this country. Whether by participating in a blue light walk, supporting fundraising efforts, or simply helping to raise awareness, everyone can play a part in supporting those affected and remembering those we have lost. Presiding officer, I'll conclude once again thanking Marie McNur for securing this debate and by paying tribute to all those campaigners, organizations, families, and individuals who continue to fight for justice. Finally, it is fitting that we're able to have such a constructive and consensual debate as we approach the end of the parliamentary term. I would like to wish all my colleagues across the chamber, parliamentary staff, and everyone watching a great summer and at least one more football match. I look forward to us all returning refreshed, revitalized and ready to rock. Thank you Paul Carol Mo to be followed by Heather Anderson. >> Thank you siding officer. Can I begin of course by thanking Marie McNair for bringing forward this important debate and welcome action math day 2026 which will be marked on the 3rd of July. In the years that I have been in parliament, I'm play pleased to have played my part in joining Marie McNair and other members to raise awareness of this cool condition, to call for further research, and to call for this condition to be properly understood as an industrial injury. As in today's motion, I think it is really important to recognize grassroots activism in seeking justice for victims. It is often grassroots based campaigns which really turn the dial on these issues. It is great to welcome people again this year. I support the campaign Cape Must Pay which calls for the former asbestous manufacturer Cape PLC now Alrad to donate 10 million to metheloma research. As my colleague Jackie Ba Bailey mentioned it is a small amount to expect. These companies in the state owe a great deal to individuals, families and communities. We need this research and compensation to what is fundamentally a class-based issue to be delivered. At this point, it seems totally appropriate to pay tribute to my former colleague and comrade Richard Leonard. Richard, as members might know, spoke in the yearly debate on this topic. He was and I'm sure will continue to be an avid campaigner for the right to justice for those affected by metheloma and the right to health and safety for the next generation of workforce. People from the last session of this parliament will know that not only was Richard Leonard a passionate committed campaigner. Her spee his speeches were also very passionate. They were as passionate as his beliefs and I thank him for the time here in the parliament for his guidance and for his commitment to economic justice. I do miss Richard in the chamber particularly for this debate. We always sat up here in the back to together. He often mentions socialists and campaigners who influenced his beliefs and works and I now do the same by thanking him for his guidance and influence on the work that I have undertaken as an activist and now as an MSP. As Richard Leonard and others have said um uh methyloma is now a is not a disease of history. In fact, we know numbers are increasing. and other members have mentioned that the reality for the people in my area is that the industrial work of the early part of the last century right up until the mid mid 80s and into the '9s mainly mining in my area exposed particularly men to asbestous but of course as others have mentioned we know the secondary exposure through clothing and washing washing clothes etc often undertaken by women is also a massive risk which these companies really wanted us to ignore. were the time delay in the progression of this dis disease means that many of my constituents continue to be affected from that period as well as of course the issues that members have brought to our attention today of the ongoing um aspestas and how we should deal with that. So industrial conditions such as those um that my constituents would be exposed to really um shows the approach of big business and insurance giants. We in this place must be clear that people are worth more than this and the lives of workingclass people, those who have built and maintained our country, those men and women must be compensated should their lives be impacted or lost due due to the nature of this work. I of course agree that the Scottish Law Commission report h reports on damages for personal in injury published in December 2024 must be actioned and I call on all lawmakers to support this call and of course on the government to really make it a priority in the next session. I do fear we have a lot more work to do to ensure we keep fighting for proper compensation, but of course importantly for proper health and safety within workplaces to ensure the rights of workers are at the center of all that we do and the next generations to come after us have much better health related to their work. Thank you, presiding officer. >> Thank you. The final open debate speech is for Heather Anderson. Thank you very much, presiding officer. I would also like to thank Marie for securing this debate and bringing this important motion to the chamber today. And I want to start by stressing how important it is that we continue to do all this awareness raising. I didn't have a family member who had contracted this disease. I basically saw a poster for an exhibition of portraits of people who had suffered from the disease and I thought it was such an astounding poster that had been produced. I got in touch with Asbestos Action in Dundee and said, "I'm really sorry I didn't manage to make it to that exhibition. Can I come and talk to you?" So when I first met the Asbestos campaigners in Dundee, they were very quick to highlight the excellent work that Maria's undertaken in the parliament to raise awareness of these conditions um and to also advocate on behalf of those affected. There are quite there are a few different charities working diligently across Scotland to support those living with conditions due to exposure to asbestos. We've heard a lot today about the Clyde Bank asbestos group, but I today want to focus on the asbestos action in Dundee. The charity supports those across the whole of the east coast living with asbestos related diseases including plural plaques asbestosis asbestos related lung cancer and messylomia. Diane from asbestos action is here today and I hope she'll excuse me for sharing some details and praise for their work. The it's a really small team of four. They do a huge amount of work to raise funding to keep the charity going. The support Diane and her team provides is in incredibly important to the men and women up and down the east coast of Scotland who find themselves suddenly diagnosed with asbestos related conditions. They've supported hundreds of clients across T-side over the last few years. Um and almost half of those live in Dundee and they also say that whenever you call them you will get a home visit whether it's an iness or dump they will come and see you. Often asbestos action staff are dealing with people who are terminally ill. They and their families may have only discovered the severity of the the condition very recently. Um the staff turn up, they listen, they sit with people, they listen to the stories of those affected and they help them trace their work histories and support their families both before and after the illness has taken its toll. Many of those who do this work have personal experience from their own families. They stand with those affected and their families at the hardest and most traumatic of times. It's the most emotionally demanding but vital work. I read one testimonial about asbestos action which really stuck with me and I just wanted to share it today. It simply says, "Pass on my thanks for all the hard work undertook on behalf of my father. He was a very proud man and if he's looking down today, he would be delighted to know how much this legacy has helped his daughters and in particular his granddaughter. When you or your family members find themselves a victim of an asbestos related conditions, it's groups like asbestos action who step in offering support and ensuring you and your family will get the advice they need. I also just wanted to take a moment to highlight the the new generation of victims of this disease. Many of the new cases coming forward are women and they're women who didn't work in industry but there were teachers, health workers, office workers. We've heard some stories today. Um and it can be very difficult for them to precisely pinpoint where they would have been exposed to asbestos. It could have been in any of the offices, schools, healthcare settings, or homes they've worked in. Their locations are less easy to identify than the large industrial sites. And they may not have worked directly with asbestos, but they've worked in buildings where asbestos is still active. Because any application for industrial injuries disablement benefit requires you identify exactly where and when you were exposed to asbestos. This creates an additional barrier for these women seeking some form of compensation. And we know from the statistics that the percentages of men getting some form of settlement are much much higher than the percentage of women. If you can't identify the source site for exposure or prove the link, your only route is to apply for a PWC1 lump sum payment. But this is requiring these women to sign away any future claims they might have in future civil cases. more needs to be done to support this new generation who are finding themselves affected by asbestos in a different landscape. So I just want to say for many of those affected they're currently missing out on relevant benefits and support and the complexities involved are stopping them getting the support they need. In concluding presiding officer groups like asbestos action are doing all they can to raise awareness of these difficulties. I hope today's debate will raise further awareness of the issues affecting those living with this condition and I will do all I can to support Marie in any work she takes forward in the parliament to remove the the time bar and get these people the justice they deserve. Thank you. >> Thank you. To close the debate and invite Minister Alison Phillis. >> Thank you very much presiding officer. I'd like to thank my colleague Minnie Mer McNair for bringing this h motion to the chamber today the fifth year that she has now done so and thank all of the members both those who spoke and who those who weren't able to speak today uh for their presence here and for their very thoughtful contributions. I think it's also worth recognizing as Carol Mockin mentioned earlier on those members that have previously contributed to these debates um who are not with us in this parliament um including Richard Leonard, Bill Kidd and Jackson Carl. We are in a new parliament but that really reflects that this is not a new issue. It has not gone away. Uh and it is on all of us now h in this parliament to continue that fight for truth and justice that so many have begun. And in that light, I welcome the campaigners that have come to the chamber today uh who have dedicated their lives uh to this fight. The Scottish government has very proudly supported action methyltheloma day and contributed to me h to members debates now for several years. And as the new minister for community care, I'm honored to lend my voice to raise much needed awareness of methyloma and of the good work being carried out by different people across Scotland. Maththemola uh is as everybody has said a devastating disease that continues to affect individuals, families and communities across Scotland. It is a devastating uh and long-lasting part of our post-industrial legacy not just in Clyde Bank along the Clyde as we've heard uh in different parts of the central belt and everywhere where there has been some degree of heavy industry and as others have mentioned has not gone away due to its presence in some of our buildings across Scotland. Raising awareness therefore is vital to improving uh that earlier diagnosis. It supports people to access the care and support that they need as well as supporting new innovations in research and treatment. It's well known that asbestos exposure is a major contributing factor in developing meaththeloma and as well as seeking to prevent exposure to asbestos which has been banned in the UK as Jackie mentioned and Jackie Bailey mentioned since 1999 and ensuring appropriate medical care is available for those affected by asbestos exposure. The Scottish government does remain committed to protecting individuals rights to compensation. The current law on limitation as many uh people have mentioned which sets time limits for raising crop proceedings can create difficulties for people with metheloma potentially through absolutely no fault of their own. They might find themselves unable to raise a case within the required time scales effectively denying them access to a legal remedy. The Scottish government and the Scottish Parliament have a strong record of supporting those exposed to asbestos whether through negligence or breach of statutory duty. I'm therefore pleased to be able to today to confirm that the Scottish government does intend to bring forward a bill that will give effect to the Scottish law commission's recommendations for reform of law of limitation in relation to certain asbestos related conditions. I know Marie Mc McNair especially is thank you [applause] I know Marie McNair especially is among those who have campaigned for such a change and had asked the first minister includes to include such a bill in the first year of parliament. So I'm very pleased to be able to confirm that we will do so and I'm happy to give away to Marie McM >> delighted. Can I thank the minister for taking the intervention? Um and I welcome today's announcement um on the time bar issue. Um I know it'll be well received h from asbes sufferers and campaigners. Um does the minister accept that on this issue justice delayed is justice denied and can you confirm how quickly the government will take it forward? >> Minister, I thank her for that. I hope to be able to bring that within by the end of the year, but she will appreciate the parliamentary time scales h will prevent me from giving me a specific date so far. Um, but she is correct in saying that justice delayed is justice denied and and I hope everybody in this chamber as well as the campaigners will welcome the commitment to a bill and the parliament will be able to support this bill on a cross party basis. Um, because as we've heard, this affects people right across our country and there is no um party political point to be made on that front. it affects people uh regardless. I also want to take a moment to just to thank and acknowledge some of the contributions that members have shared today. A couple of members have mentioned particularly and Heather Anderson mentioned this, the barriers to compensation for women and I do think that is worth further consideration because it is difficult to prove in many cases where that harm has come from and that's something that we will need to think further about. Uh Jackie Bailey mentioned the the case of Scottish borders uh schools and I won't make a financial commitment in the chamber today. She will understand why that but the point has been noted uh and I will uh give thought to that. Um of course Paul Sweeney >> thank you uh thank the minister for giving away and I welcome the news on the proposed legislation as a member of the law reform committee. It's very welcome indeed. It's something that's been hoped for for a long time. Does the minister share my concern that the former Cape Marinite factory in Springburn has been in a state of chronic dereliction and abandonment for 12 years now with frequently young people trespassing on the site exposing themselves to a legacy of asbestos contamination. Would she commit to working with me in Glasgow City Council to try and resolve the long-term dereliction of that huge industrial facility in Springburn and try to bring some sort of regeneration to that site? Minister. >> Yes. Paul Sweeney makes a very good point because a lot of this is wrapped up in our postindustrial legacy. It is a difficulty that we have to overcome that there are these abandoned factories that people who enter them for whatever reason, urban exploration or whatever that might be. Um they don't understand the risks that they are then exposing themselves to. Um there are stories of people in you know adults now in their own childhood who messed around in sites with asbestos in it utterly unaware of the harm that they were placing themselves in. So it is something that we do need to consider and the owners of those per sectar sites and buildings h have a particular um responsibility to make sure that they are secure that they are safe and that they are not being negligent in exposing people to risk and I would encourage anybody who is aware of buildings where there is an odor and somebody who can be held to account that that is done so um because there is an awful lot to be recognized in terms of holding people to account and that has been a feature of this campaign uh over time. The Scott government continue our commitment to stand alongside those affected by metheloma to ensure that they receive the compassionate care and treatment that they require at every stage of their journey and this cannot be achieved through our NHS alone. I wish to extend my thanks to third sector community and social care to industry and other part partners working collaboratively to improve the outcomes for those affected by methyloma. And I would particularly like to uh extend my sincere thanks to all organizations who offer that invaluable help and support to anybody affected by methyloma and a best asbestos related conditions. To meloma UK for continuing to raise awareness each year through action methyloma day. Um the Scottish government will proudly show our support by lighting up uh in blue St. Andrew's House and Victoria Key here in Edinburgh on the 3rd of July to get behind the go blue for Miso campaign. Um and I would encourage others who have the ability to do so to also h light up their buildings or show their support by dressing in blue presiding officer. I also wish to mention a special thanks to the clay bank asbestos groups who have provided support to those affected h over for over 30 years. the work of the lesser survivable cancers task force who also support people affected by methyloma. Um Heather Anderson mentioned as best action in Dundee and Tay-side and those campaigners. Pauline Stafford mentioned the Scottish methyloma network. Colome I was glad to hear mentioned action on asbestos who are based in my Glasggo Central constituency and have done a great deal of work in this uh campaign and the support to people as well. And other members mentioned the Cape must pay campaign which I would agree um 10 million pounds towards clinical research and uh trials seems a small price for such a company to pay and I would welcome their contribution in that respect. Um because clinical trials are being carried out to develop new and effective approaches to the treatment of methyloma. Um they're vital in finding novel ways to treat and detect cancers early. We know that there can be a significant delay between asbestos exposure and symptoms of cancer and I'm heartened to hear that there have been several meaththeloma studies that have taken place across Scotland uh including I understand four of these which are currently active and open to recruitment in Scotland. The Scottish government's chief scientist officer um aims to support and increase the level of high-quality research conducted in Scotland and has funded research into meaththeloma treatments and a new clinical trial called HIT MESO is assessing the use of proton beam therapy for patients with unilateral malignant plural messyloma. These patients currently face limited treatment options in protein beam the beam therapy has been shown to uh give some pro h promise to uh treating other thoracic cancers. uh it's more precise pre precise I understand than other conventional radiotherapy um and the team behind uh the trial in England has begun the process of establishing that in Scotland uh while the trials and the others open to recruitment show show real promise to people diagnosed with methelium I recognize the the really devastating impact that a diagnosis can have on the wider families and communities living with me now um so we know that that diagnosis is a farreaching impact Um, and that can be particularly true for cancers where they're they're perhaps not as as commonplace and feeling uh individuals isolated and uh alone at a distressing time. Uh, the Scottish government's 10ear cancer strategy sets out a clear ambition. Every person with cancer is at the heart of decisions about their care supported and what matters most to them when they need it. And the single point of contact pilots that we have embarked upon are making a significant difference in making sure that people get that ability to discuss their treatment anxieties and their support. and we've invested 2.5 million to expand the reach of this program across Scotland. We're also continuing to work in partnership with McMillan um through the transforming cancer care partnership program which is worth over 27 million pounds and provides patients with a specialist uh key support worker to offer that emotional, financial and practical support to people with cancer and I would encourage people to go forward to that service if they need that support. As members across the chamber have said, this is not a debate that is about the past. It's a debate that is very much in the present. But we honor all of those who have passed uh who have not who are not here to see this day today. Um Tony Worthington, David Colraine, uh and John McDougall were all mentioned as as campaigners on this issue who aren't here today to see this. We honor their memory by making sure that we get justice and truth for for themselves and for everybody affected by methyloma. I'd like to extend my thanks to everybody for their contributions today uh and to all improved uh to all involved in improving outcomes for people with mehiloma. Thank you very much president. [applause] Thank you. That concludes our debate. Can I take the opportunity to wish members their staff and everyone who works in the parliamentary campus uh a wonderful recess and I close this meeting.