§ 9. Mr. Eric Illsley (Barnsley, Central) (Lab)If she will make a statement on the progress of coal miners' compensation claims. [182686]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Nigel Griffiths)To date, more than 353,000 payments have been made to former miners and their families under the main health schemes, totalling more than £2.1 billion. We continue to pay out a further £1.8 million a day, and I am grateful to all hon. Members for their help in ensuring that we are delivering the biggest health compensation scheme in history.
§ Mr. IllsleyI am grateful for that reply, and I congratulate the Government on what they have achieved so far on coal health claims. Has any progress been made in negotiating settlements for those categories of workers who are currently excluded from compensation claims, such as surface workers who contracted chronic bronchitis and emphysema through working in dusty conditions, albeit on a colliery surface?
§ Nigel GriffithsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the chance to update the House on that. Mr. Justice Turner asked the miners' solicitors for evidence to support claims for compensation for surface workers. I made sure that the solicitors had our full co-operation and access to all the British Coal dust records. I understand that the solicitors have identified lead cases, which they intend to present to Mr. Justice Turner next week or the week after. As always, the DTI will meet the full liability to any miner determined by the courts.
§ Mr. Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD)Undoubtedly, compensation claims and compensation are flowing through the system. Apart from surface workers, however, there are real problems for miners who worked in small private mines, particularly those who fall outside the qualifying period and who are finding it difficult to have that period disregarded and their claims considered. Will the Minister assure us that those miners will have their claims considered quickly?
§ Nigel GriffithsI share with other hon. Members concerns about the small mines. I am happy to say that the claimants' group representing the miners reached agreement with the small mines representatives on their outstanding issues in February. Measures are being put in place to ensure that the necessary systems exist to make full and final offers, and those include amendments to the claims handling agreement, software adjustments to the calendar models and other things. I should appreciate it if the hon. Gentleman and others kept me posted on the impact that that is having on their constituents. We have a common aim.
§ Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab)The miners helped to make this country the wealthy place it is today. Many became ill in the process because of the negligence of the coal board. It is to the Government's great credit that they have secured the largest compensation package in history, resulting in more than £30 million being paid out in Hemsworth alone.
May I draw my hon. Friend's attention to one small group of individuals? The burden of proof is on the miners to demonstrate that they worked in the mining industry. Some are old and their colleagues have died, leaving no evidence around that they worked down the pits and are now suffering as a result. If I write to my hon. Friend, will he look into that problem?
§ Nigel GriffithsYes, I should of course be grateful to hear about that. We want to rectify any outstanding injustice. My hon. Friend takes a close interest in these matters and will realise that we need some evidence, although records may not be available. We are going as wide as possible in accepting evidence, but I shall be happy to examine in some detail the case that my hon. Friend mentioned.