Mr Hepburn and fellow campaigning MPs will try to persuade the PM to support restoring compensation for those with pleural plaques.

The Law Lords threw out the right to compensation following a controversial ruling in 2007, despite the constant threat of pleural plaques triggering such fatal diseases as mesothelioma.

Later today, a delegation of MPs, including the Jarrow MP, will meet the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, to press for compensation to be restored.

Mr Hepburn said: "The meeting is the culmination of a long-standing and passionate campaign by many MPs, unions and others to overturn the unjust Lords' ruling of 2007.

"We are glad that Jack Straw will help present the case for reinstating the compensation.

"We hope that the PM will see the merits of this and take a broader and longer-term view of the issue."

Pleural plaques is scarring of the lung tissue, causing breathlessness, stress and anxiety.

Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive revealed that North East England has the highest death rates for mesothelioma.