To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to increase tariff payments from the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme in line with the Consumer Price Index; if so, when; and whether they intend to conduct a review of that Scheme.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the amount claimants to the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme receive compared to those with mesothelioma who successfully pursued civil claims; whether the difference in those amounts has increased in the past three years; and whether they will publish details of the average pay-out variations between the Scheme and civil claims.

When the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS) was introduced in 2014 the payment tariffs were based on 80 percent of the average damages awarded in the civil courts. This amount was increased to 100 percent in 2015

This increase is far greater than if increases had been made in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For example, the highest DMPS payment for those aged 40 or under in 2014 was £216,896 and this was increased to £271,120 in 2015, and the lowest payment for those aged 90 or over increased from £69,649 to £87,061

Information about the value of court awards or out of court settlements in Diffuse Mesothelioma cases in the past three years is not available. The 'Study into average civil compensation in mesothelioma cases', published in 2014, estimated average (mean) civil compensation at £153,531 (in 2012 prices). The average payment under the DMPS for each of the last three years is £135,000, £141,000 and £145,000 respectively.

In line with commitments made during the passage of the Mesothelioma Bill, the intention is to review the payment tariffs, in due course, to ensure payments made under the Scheme are maintained at the appropriate level.