Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by the Lord Haskel on 11 May (H.L. Deb., col. 818), whether they have made any financial provision for miners' claims which are likely to be agreed; and, if so, what are the provisions for this year and next. [HL1933]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Clinton-Davis)Provision for all liabilities in respect of former British Coal employees, including health liabilities, in 1998–99 is £273 million. Due to a number of continuing uncertainties—not least because each claim for special damage in particular has to be assessed individually—it is still too early to say how much of this will be required to meet the specific cost of miners' health claims. Provision for 1999–2000 is still subject to the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.