§ Lord Morris of Castle Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
What provision is to be made to ensure that adequate compensation is available for coal miners who suffer industrial deafness and vibration, white finger or any other industrial disease or injury and who (a) cease to be employed by British Coal before privatisation of the coal industry or (b) are trasferred to a private mine operator who then goes in liquidation.
§ Lord StrathclydeThe Government have been considering where the dividing line should fall between those liabilities for health-related claims that will be accepted as the responsibility of the Government after the privatisation of British Coal and those that will become the responsibility of the successor companies. It is estimated that well over 95 per cent. of future claims with respect to past service with British Coal will relate to people who will have already left the corporation's employment at privatisation. The Government have decided that at privatisation responsibility for health and injury claims with respect to past service with British Coal will be retained in the public sector and accepted by the Government. Responsibility for health and injury claims with respect to future service after privatisation with successors will rest with the successors. Normal procedures will apply to the settlement of claims that call for apportionment with respect to periods of service with British Coal and successor companies.