HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 cc271-2W
19. Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress being made in settling miners' claims for respiratory disease compensation. [149020]

Mr. Hain

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings),Official Report, column 446W. In Wales alone, we paid out £1 million in mining compensation last week. In Bridgend alone, we have already paid out over £5.5 million.

Earlier this week, I attended a meeting of the Welsh sub-group of the national monitoring group. The sub-group is looking at ways of speeding up the process and the payment of compensation specifically in Wales.

25. Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have benefited from the compensation scheme for former mineworkers. [149029]

Mr. Hain

To date, some 43,100 claimants have received full and interim settlements in relation to claims for vibration-related diseases. In addition, a further 30,700 claimants have received full and interim settlements in relation to claims for respiratory disease.

In total to date, the Department has paid out £332.5 million in coalmining compensation, and continues to pay out around £1 million a day.