RIO TINTO AND THE CAPPER PASS CLAIMS TRIBUNAL

Summary

That this House welcomes the news of the successful campaign waged against Rio Tinto plc by former workers, their families and residents in respect of industrial diseases, illnesses and deaths resulting from its operation of the former Capper Pass tin smelter; cautiously supports Rio Tinto's proposals to set up a claims tribunal to decide compensation according to the merits; notes Rio Tinto's decision not to contest whether the injuries, illnesses and deaths arose through negligence, to admit that it owed a duty of care and to waive statutory time limits, but expresses great concern that Rio Tinto refuses to meet the generic or individual legal costs of the claimants, thereby attempting to debar them from pursuing their cases, and calls upon it to reconsider such refusal; is disappointed at Rio Tinto seeking to silence its critics by claiming that disclosure of its proposals constitute irresponsible publicity, by encouraging wholly unmeritorious claims; notes that since the disclosure 60 new claims were lodged, including 15 deaths resulting from liver, oesophageal and lung cancer, brain tumours and Hodgkins Disease, 19 cases, lung cancer, respiratory disease, skeletal disintegration, thyroid disease, leukaemia and epilepsy, deaths of residents including children aged between four and 14 years, from brain tumours, bone cancer, neuroplasma and leukaemia, and illnesses of residents including brain tumours, leukaemia, Hodgkins Disease and myeloma; and calls upon Rio Tinto to recognise its responsibilities and to desist forthwith from further attempts to discredit the claims of workers, families and residents and expeditiously make provision for the payment of full compensation and costs.

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Timeline

1. 19 June 2000

   Early Day Motion

   That this House welcomes the news of the successful campaign waged against Rio Tinto plc by former workers, their families and residents in respect of industrial diseases, illnesses and deaths resulting from its operation of the former Capper Pass tin smelter; cautiously supports Rio Tinto's proposals to set up a claims tribunal to decide compensation according to the merits; notes Rio Tinto's decision not to contest whether the injuries, illnesses and deaths arose through negligence, to admit that it owed a duty of care and to waive statutory time limits, but expresses great concern that Rio Tinto refuses to meet the generic or individual legal costs of the claimants, thereby attempting to debar them from pursuing their cases, and calls upon it to reconsider such refusal; is disappointed at Rio Tinto seeking to silence its critics by claiming that disclosure of its proposals constitute irresponsible publicity, by encouraging wholly unmeritorious claims; notes that since the disclosure 60 new claims were lodged, including 15 deaths resulting from liver, oesophageal and lung cancer, brain tumours and Hodgkins Disease, 19 cases, lung cancer, respiratory disease, skeletal disintegration, thyroid disease, leukaemia and epilepsy, deaths of residents including children aged between four and 14 years, from brain tumours, bone cancer, neuroplasma and leukaemia, and illnesses of residents including brain tumours, leukaemia, Hodgkins Disease and myeloma; and calls upon Rio Tinto to recognise its responsibilities and to desist forthwith from further attempts to discredit the claims of workers, families and residents and expeditiously make provision for the payment of full compensation and costs.

   Source: Early Day Motion

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Sponsors

• Mr Kevin McNamara · Labour · Primary sponsor

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