§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims have been registered, broken down by coalfield area; how many live claimants there are; and how many(a) widows and (b) estates are claiming. [22233]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 12 December 2001]: In collating statistics, the Department does not normally distinguish between estate claims for widows and others. In the time given, these figures are not available. IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered claims in the following regions:
Region Number of live claims Number of estate claims Wales 18,319 16,858 Scotland 7,582 5,478 Nottinghamshire 16,623 4,444 Yorkshire 31,447 13,117 North East 11,991 12,760 North West 5,371 3,803 Midlands 10,500 5,394 South 2,517 1,501 Other 756 307 Total 105,106 63,662 Regional statistics and headlines statistics are available on the Department's website on www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many miners claiming chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been diagnosed by Health Call to be suffering with asthma, broken down by coalfield area; and how much money has been paid to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claimants, broken down by coalfield area, showing how many(a) final and (b) expedited settlements have been made; and how many interim payments have been made. [22232]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 12 December 2001]: The court judgment did not accept that asthma can be caused by working in mining, but acknowledged that it may be made worse temporarily by coal dust or fumes. Under the Handling Agreement, the sum of £2,500 will be paid for temporary exacerbation of asthma plus interest. This sum is not subject to apportionment and is paid following full medical assessment. Interims and expedited offers are not applicable in this category. To date nine claimants have been diagnosed as having temporary exacerbation of asthma only (with no other accompanying compensatable disability), broken down as follows: 262W
Region Number of claimants Damages paid (£) Nottinghamshire 2 5,298 Derbyshire 2 5,343 South Wales 1 2,703 Leicestershire 1 2,594 Leeds 1 2,673 West Yorkshire 1 2,763 Tyne and Wear 1 2,627