ASBESTOS SCANDAL ..WE ARE WINNING; MP will highlight our campaign in Commons EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: BY MARK ELLIS 

PRESSURE on the Government to tackle Britain's asbestos time bomb increased last night after our campaign sparked a debate in the Commons.

Lib Dem Paul Rowen will highlight the threat from the hidden killer lurking in schools and other public buildings in a 30-minute speech after winning backing from other MPs.

One of our key demands is a register of asbestos surveys of public buildings - and Mr Rowen will insist local authorities do the checks.

He said: "I'm delighted. It puts the Government on the spot. I am sure the urgency of the Mirror campaign helped to get this shocking issue debated."

The Rochdale MP will make his speech next Wednesday.

Despite the introduction of Control of Asbestos Regulations three years ago, many councils have not surveyed all their buildings used on a daily basis.

The Mirror's survey of a dozen councils revealed nine out of 10 schools are asbestos-riddled.

SUPPORT our campaign by signing our Number 10 petition at blogs.mirror.co.uk/asbestos-campaign

OUR 5 DEMANDS..

1 A pounds 10million National Centre for Asbestos Related Disease to find better treatment, alleviate suffering and work on cures.

2 Compensation for victims of "pleural plaques" - scars on lungs caused by asbestos - reinstated after it was scrapped two years ago.

3 Fair and equal compensation for sufferers who can't trace bosses' insurers, through new industry funded Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau.

4 A public register of all asbestos surveys carried out on public buildings.

5 The Health and Safety Executive must be given the resources to meet its own targets for inspecting asbestos removal work.

CAPTION(S):

CONCERNS Many schools have asbestos in their buildings