APIL welcomes judicial review decision on how HMRC provides work histories for mesothelioma victims

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has welcomed a judicial review decision which will mean a change to HMRC’s policy on providing work histories to coroners.

The Government department will now have to provide a route through a coroner for some families to obtain a deceased member’s work history, after failing to stop a notice issued by a coroner under the Coroners and Justice Act requiring HMRC to produce a work history in connection with a mesothelioma inquest he was conducting.

APIL said that the decision would make it easier for those attempting to find the source of asbestos exposure that led to a death from mesothelioma.

“This is a welcome decision, which will stop some of the delays and uncertainty that have been forced on bereaved families seeking to claim compensation following the death of loved ones,” said Matthew Stockwell, president of APIL.

“Further arguments in the judicial review, which challenge HMRC’s refusal to allow families direct access to the work histories, will be equally crucial in ensuring that all those who suffer a negligent bereavement, including dying from asbestos exposure, are able to seek justice without the additional hurdles and costs that HMRC are trying to force upon them,” he added.

Mark Dugdale