§ 36. Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the proposed clawback of benefits relating to the compensation payments being made to miners and miners' widows. [107224]
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§ Mr. BayleyNo. The provisions of the compensation recovery scheme apply to miners and miners' widows in the same way as they do for other victims of accident, injury or disease. The compensation recovery scheme is intended to ensure that victims do not receive double compensation for the same need.
Compensation paid in respect of loss of past earnings, cost of past care or loss of past mobility is therefore reduced to take account of benefits paid, but only for a maximum period of five years from the date of claim to benefit in respect of the disease. Whether miners see a reduction in the amount of compensation they actually receive, therefore, will depend on the make-up of their compensation payment. However, compensation awarded to miners and miners' widows in respect of pain and suffering will be paid at the full amount awarded under the terms of the handling agreement and is not subject to any deduction.