§ Lord Haleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have completed their settlement of claims under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 and how many claims were received, how many accepted, and what is the estimated number and total amount of payments made.
The Earl of GowrieThe great majority of those claimants under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 who were first diagnosed as suffering from a disease covered by the Act before it came into force on 4th July 1979 (or were dependants of sufferers who had died before then) have either been paid or informed they are not entitled to a payment. Only 145 of the 4,515 claims received within the one year time limit for such claimants are still outstanding. The current total figures are 4,870 claims received and 273 outstanding. The Act is permanent legislation, and claims will continue to be made in small numbers principally by those newly diagnosed as suffering from a disease covered by the Act. Payments have been made to 2,916 applicants. These total about £17 million.