§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is now able to meet the cost of extending the National Coal Board's pneumoconiosis compensation scheme to include workmen's compensation commuted cases.
§ Mr. John Moore:Yes. I am glad to say that after detailed consideration of this matter the Government have decided to meet the request of the National Union of 252W Mineworkers, together with the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers, to provide extra finance to enable the NCB to extend its pneumoconiosis compensation scheme. This will allow a payment under the scheme of £600 to each person disabled through pneumoconiosis who has previously been excluded from payment, because at an earlier date he commuted in return for a lump sum his rights to weekly benefit under the Workmen's Compensation Acts. Surviving widows of such persons will also receive payments of £600.
It is expected that the total cost of financing this extension can be met within the statutory authority to make grants to the board to meet expenditure under the pneumoconiosis compensation scheme, taken under section 1 of the Coal Industry Act 1975, as amended (to provide authority to pay an additional £7 million) by section 8 of the Coal Industry Act 1980. Estimates provision to cover the increased payments will be sought in due course.