§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the extra £100 million announced in October for miners suffering from chronic bronchitis and emphysema has been paid to former miners residing in(a) South Shields constituency, (b) the North East of England and (c) nationally. [142633]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 18 December 2000]: £100 million was an estimate of the offers that might be made once spirometry results had been reviewed.
As at 13 December the Department had made in excess of 11,000 revised and new expedited offers totalling £54 million, further offers continue to be made. Of these, the value of payments made, following acceptance by the claimant, are as follows:
- (a) South Shields—£62,366;
- (b) North East—£1,053,659; and
- (c) Nationally—£9,548,233.
Many thousands of new offers will be made before Christmas. However, payments will depend on how quickly claimants and their solicitors respond. Once an offer has been accepted, payment is usually made within 10 days.