Mesothelioma Data for Scotland
THE 'TIMEBOMB' TOWN; Clydebank Legacy of Great Ships Makes It Worst for Asbestos Disease.
SIMON HOUSTON | The Daily Mail | October 8, 1996
THE once great shipbuilding town of Clydebank is the worst place in Britain for asbestos-related disease, with a death rate more than ten times the national average, according to official figures.
It is claimed that the town is a `ticking timebomb' for more deaths because of the deadly cocktail of shipbuilding yards and factories which once enabled it to lay claim to the title of Scotland's industrial heartland.
Last night, following the revelations by the Health and Safety Executive, local MP Tony Worthington called for immediate Government action and said that much of the problem could be put down to the town's industrial past.
He also urged the Government to stop clawing back benefit - sometimes tens of thousands of pounds - from those dying from asbestosis poisoning.
Mr Worthington, MP for Clydebank and Milngavie, said last night: `I have obtained national figures which show that Clydebank had a death rate of 212 per million compared with a national average of 19.
`Clydebank had the highest death rate from mesathelioma for men anywhere in Britain from 1976 to 1991. Appallingly, the toll for this incurable disease will go on for many years to come.
`This is because we had a deadly cocktail of shipbuilding and ship repairing yards as well as an asbestos factory. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.'
Of the ten mainly shipbuilding areas highlighted by the HSE, Clydebank is by far the worst. Other Scottish areas in the top 50 include Clydebank's neighbours Bearsden and Milngavie and Glasgow, Dumbarton, Renfrew and Greenock, as well as Dunfermline, which is close to ship facilities at Rosyth.
Clydebank is also well above the national average for mesathelioma among females - the sixth highest in Britain with 17 deaths per million.
The Royal Yacht Britannia, built in Clydebank when the north bank of the Clyde thrived as a shipbuilding area, is known to have asbestos problems - one of the major factors when the decision was taken to scrap the vessel.
Another proud moment for the town was the construction of the QE 2 in the late 1960s, although there has never been any suggestion that she has suffered asbestos-related problems.
The controversial Health Care International private hospital, which was at the centre of a row over [pounds sterling]37million of public money used to build it, stands on a site which was heavily polluted by gas and asbestos.
Mr Worthington added: `We are on a ticking time bomb of future deaths in Clydebank because of what happened at work 10 to 50 years ago. The official body, the HSE, estimates that there could 10,000 deaths annually in Britain from asbestos in 2025. This is over twice as many as are killed in road accidents.'
Mr Worthington has called for reform of the Compensation Recovery Unit to be included in the Queen's Speech.
`The appalling Compensatory Recovery Unit set up by the Government under the Department of Social Security claws back tens of thousands of pounds from asbestos victims for past benefit payments if a dying person eventually proves that they have the disease and finally traces the firm who poisoned them to get compensation,' he said.
The MP works closely with Clydeside Action on Asbestos, and claims that some members have lost thousands of pounds in benefits.
`The Government argues that if you win a compensation award for loss of earnings, you shouldn't be awarded twice for the same thing, and therefore should have to pay back the income support you have been given over the years,' he said.
Such was Clydebank's industrial importance during World War II, it was targeted by the Luftwaffe and bombed heavily.
The Clydebank blitz, next to London and Coventry, was one of the most horrific and prolonged aerial attacks of the war.Clydebank A SCOTTISH MP has called for immediate government action after official figures showed Clydebank is the worst town in Britain for asbestos related disease, with a death rate more than ten times the national average.
It was also claimed that the town is a 'ticking time bomb' for more deaths because of a deadly cocktail of shipbuilding yards and factories in a town which once laid claim to the title of Scotland's industrial heartland.
Clydebank and Milngavie MP Tony Worthington said national Health and Safety Executive figures showed the town had an extremely high death rate, much of which can be put down to its industrial past.THE once great shipbuilding town of Clydebank is the worst place in Britain for asbestos-related disease, with a death rate more than ten times the national average, official figures have revealed.
It is claimed that the town is a `ticking timebomb' for more deaths because of the deadly cocktail of shipbuilding yards and factories which once enabled it to lay claim to the title of Scotland's industrial heartland.
Last night, following the revelations by the Health and Safety Executive, local MP Tony Worthington called for immediate Government action and said that much of the problem could be put down to the town's industrial past.
He also urged the Government to stop clawing back benefit - sometimes tens of thousands of pounds - from those dying from asbestosis poisoning.
Mr Worthington, MP for Clydebank and Milngavie, said last night: `I have obtained national figures which show that Clydebank had a death rate of 212 per million compared with a national average of 19.
`Clydebank had the highest death rate from mesothelioma for men anywhere in Britain from 1976 to 1991. Appallingly, the toll for this incurable disease will go on for many years to come.
`This is because we had a deadly cocktail of shipbuilding and ship repairing yards as well as an asbestos factory. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.'
Of the ten mainly shipbuilding areas highlighted by the HSE, Clydebank is by far the worst. Other Scottish areas in the top 50 include Clydebank's neighbours Bearsden and Milngavie and Glasgow, Dumbarton, Renfrew and Greenock, as well as Dunfermline, which is close to ship facilities at Rosyth.
Clydebank is also well above the national average for mesothelioma among females - the sixth highest in Britain with 17 deaths per million.
The Royal Yacht Britannia, built in Clydebank when the north bank of the Clyde thrived as a shipbuilding area, is known to have asbestos problems - one of the major factors when the decision was taken to scrap the vessel.
Another proud moment for the town was the construction of the QE2 in the late 1960s, although there has never been any suggestion that she has suffered asbestos-related problems.
The controversial Health Care International private hospital, which was at the centre of a row over [pounds sterling]37million of public money used to build it, stands on a site which was heavily polluted by gas and asbestos.
Mr Worthington added: `We are on a ticking timebomb of future deaths in Clydebank because of what happened at work ten to 50 years ago. The official body, the HSE, estimates that there could 10,000 deaths annually in Britain from asbestos in 2025. This is over twice as many as are killed in road accidents.'
Mr Worthington has called for reform of the Compensation Recovery Unit to be included in the Queen's Speech.
`The appalling Compensatory Recovery Unit set up by the Government under the Department of Social Security claws back tens of thousands of pounds from asbestos victims for past benefit payments if a dying person eventually proves that they have the disease and finally traces the firm who poisoned them to get compensation,' he said.
The MP works closely with Clydeside Action on Asbestos, and claims that some members have lost thousands of pounds in benefits.
`The Government argues that if you win a compensation award for loss of earnings, you shouldn't be awarded twice for the same thing, and therefore should have to pay back the income support you have been given over the years,' he said.
Such was Clydebank's industrial importance during World War II, it was targeted by the Luftwaffe and bombed heavily.
The Clydebank blitz, next to London and Coventry, was one of the most horrific and prolonged aerial attacks of the war.
Table of areas affected by Mesothalioma in Scotland (1976-91)
Area Male deaths Deaths per million British position
Clydebank 82 212 1
Bearsden &
Milngavie 16 49 20
Glasgow 280 49 21
Dumbarton 29 47 22
Renfrew 67 42 27
Dunfermline 35 34 31
Inverclyde 23 30 44