There are concerns over compensation for sufferers

A recent House of Lords ruling means that compensation to victims and their families will be cut.

The convenor of one of Holyrood's influential committees said she would do everything in her power to persuade Scottish ministers to intervene.

An executive spokesman said the judgement was still being considered.

A total of 1,900 people are said to die from asbestos-related diseases across the UK each year.

However, last week the Law Lords ruled that compensation to victims and their families should be reduced where responsibility could not be attached to a single employer.

The recent House of Lords decision is wrong and I believe that the Scots law position is quite different Pauline McNeill Labour MSP

A total of 32 MSPs, including Jim Wallace, former justice minister, have condemned the ruling as overturning the traditional Scots law approach to such cases and described it as a breach of natural justice.

The members from all six parliamentary parties have signed Labour MSP Des McNulty's motion calling for full compensation to be given to all victims and their families.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think it's entirely unfair that people who suffer from this dreadful disease should be deprived of any part of their compensation.

"I think the House of Lords judgement is entirely wrong."

'Scottish view'

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, who chairs Holyrood's Justice 1 Committee, said the issue was urgent and added that she would investigate how the committee could bring pressure to bear on ministers.

She said: "The recent House of Lords decision is wrong and I believe that the Scots law position is quite different.

"In Mesothelioma cases, up until now, if you go against an employer you don't then have to run around to get the other employers to take joint liability."

Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Shona Robison said: "It doesn't fit well with Scots law and certainly across all of the parties there is a Scottish view on this which is that this is deeply unfair and unjust."