12,000 people have died from asbestos poisoning since 2002.

By 2015 10,000 people each year will die from asbestos poisoning.

As an industrial region, the North East unfortunately sees many horrific instances of asbestos-related illnesses and often, subsequent deaths. There are five main types of asbestos-related diseases:

* Pleural plaques

* Diffuse Pleural Thickening

* Asbestosis

* Asbestos-related Lung Cancer

* Mesothelioma

As the number of sufferers rises, so does the importance and necessity of support for the victims and their families. This Wednesday (27th July) will see the official launch of the Tyne and Wear Asbestos Support Group.

John Kelly, of the Tyne & Wear Asbestos Support Group said, "Between 1981 and 2000 there were 932 deaths from the asbestos cancer Mesothelioma in the Tyne & Wear area, that is a staggering 49 deaths per year. Given that nationally the experts say the death toll from asbestos poisoning will rise dramatically over the next decade or so, we have little doubt that the North East will contribute more than its share to this tragedy. The region should welcome the launch of the Tyne & Wear Asbestos Support Group to help all those sufferers, now and in the future, fight for justice and proper compensation and to join in the campaign for the world wide ban of this malevolent material."

Fellow speaker, Nick Brown, MP for Newcastle East and Wallsend, added, "Today's TUC-backed launch of the Asbestos Support Group is timely. There is so much that still needs to be done. The Asbestos Removal Regulations need to be thoroughly enforced, new advances in healthcare should be universal in the United Kingdom, and more thought needs to be given to disposal routes for unwanted asbestos waste. The TUC and the TWASG are right to keep these important issues at the forefront of public debate."

Jim Marshall, GMB Regional Health and Safety and Education Officer, commented,"GMB Northern welcomes the emergence of this group. This kind of service is badly needed in Tyne and Wear as asbestos has been a bigger hazard here than anywhere else in the country. We look forward to working with the TWASG, so that we can help people who have been affected by this killer."

Kevin Rowan finished, "Victims of asbestos-related illnesses can suffer quite horrendous and painful symptoms, and both they and their families need a great deal of support. Tyne and Wear is one of a number of areas in the country where that help is needed most and I am pleased that a trade union based organisation, the Tyne and Wear Asbestos Support Group, is providing that help."

Notes to Editors:

The launch will take pace at the Northern TUC Office at 11am
(5th Floor, Commercial Union House, 39 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, NE1 6QE)

Speakers on the day will be John Kelly, Nick Brown, Jim Marshall and Kevin Rowan

Press are welcome to attend (prior notice preferable)

TWASG is based at the Newcastle & Gateshead Centre Against Unemployment
(4, The Cloth Market, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: 0191 232 4606)

The TWASG is an independent organisation, dedicated to providing information, advice and support to people affected by asbestos-related diseases. The role of the group is two-fold:

* A co-ordinating role to ensure that people affected by asbestos-related diseases have access to the spectrum of advice which may be required. They will ensure that sufferers have access to and/ or are given welfare benefit advice and access to quality legal advice.

* A campaigning role on health and safety matters, particularly to ensure that employers are enforcing the relevant legislation on the management of asbestos and to highlight cases of negligence where the legislation isn?t being adhered to. Like all other asbestos support groups the TWASG also campaigns for a total worldwide ban on the production and sale of asbestos.

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries : Susanne Nichol on 0191 232 3175 or 07771873108 : snichol@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: John Kelly/Kevin Flynn on 0191 232 4606