DELAYS over an announcement on reinstigating compensation for victims of asbestos related pleural plaques has led to a town politician quizzing Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen questioned Mr Brown during Prime Ministers' questions this week , after earlier this year Mr Brown agreed to reinstate payments.

According to Mr Rowen, the government has been delaying the publication of a statement into the issue of compensation.

Mr Rowen asked: "The Prime Minister promised in June that there would be a statement on the restoration of compensation for victims of pleural plaques.

'It is now November, so can he tell us why we have not yet received it."

In response Mr Brown said: "We are meeting members of parliament who have raised the issue with us and we will comer back to the House of Commons with a statement on exactly that."

Mr Rowen understands that this meeting will be held on November 27 and a statement would be forthcoming after that date.

In a press statement issued after the Commons question, Mr Rowen said:

"When questioned in April, Gordon Brown indicated that: 'It is right that we look again at this as a result of legal actions that have been taken about the obligations of insurance companies.

'The Justice Secretary will make a statement on this when we return after Easter'.

"However, it is now November and there still has been no statement on whether compensation for pleural plaques victims will be reinstated.

The local MP also recently spoke at the third reading of a private members bill restoring compensation payments for asbestos-related conditions.He added: "It is unacceptable that the government is still delaying reinstating pleural plaques compensation."