§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the compensation recovery unit has recovered from individuals with an asbestos-related disease in each of the last five years, by region.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThis is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Mr. Michael Richard to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 24 November:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) has recovered from individuals with an asbestos related disease in each of the last five years by region.The full range of information you requested is not available. This is because the CRU's computer system records cases involving victims of asbestosis rather than asbestos related diseases. In addition, information relating to cases settled prior to 1993 is no longer held on the computer system and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.Information is not readily available to break the data that is available down into regions and to obtain this would also be at a disproportionate cost.The total amounts recovered by CRU relating to victims of asbestosis is:
- 1 April 93–31 March 1994 — £408,665.
- 1 April 94–21 November 1994 — £651,164.
- I hope you find this reply helpful.