§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements his Department has made for undertaking further medical assessment procedures in the north east of Wales since the current office was refused planning permission by Wrexham County Borough Council.[154545]
§ Mr. HainHealthcall has been asked to cease assessments in May. There are only a small number of claimants in the Wrexham area and Healthcall is investigating alternative sites in the area for the portakabin modular unit with the help of the local council.
In addition, Healthcall is in the process of equipping two mobile testing units to be used throughout Great Britain. If it is unable to identify an alternative site for the portakabin it plans to use the mobile units to test in Wrexham as and when the need arises.
I visited this site recently and have given an undertaking that there will be no disruptions or delay to the processing of claims of appointments.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many more claims for compensation his Department expects to receive from ex-miners and their families from the north east of Wales. [154547]
§ Mr. HainIt is difficult to forecast the number of further claims of compensation for respiratory disease expected. Nation-wide, there are currently 1,000 new claims initiated in respect of respiratory disease each week. The current number of claims is currently 140,000.
In relation to vibration white finger, VWF, there was a cut-off date on 30 September 2000. The total number of claims is 118,000.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what timescale his Department has for processing claims for compensation from ex-miners and their families from the north east of Wales. [154546]
§ Mr. HainIt is difficult to say how long it will take before the last claim is assessed in the north east of Wales. New claims can still be made and across the UK there are about 1,000 new claims each week. We are prioritising the most injured and eldest miners and widows.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims from ex-miners and their widows from the north east of Wales coalfield his Department has received in the last five years. [154548]
§ Mr. HainIn the area of north east Wales, as defined by the postcodes LL11–16, 18–22, 24, 26, 28–29, 32–34, CH1 and 4–8, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 1,256 claims in respect of compensation for respiratory disease and 549 claims in relation to vibration white finger, VWF. To date, there have been 371 individual payments totalling £1.37 million in respect of respiratory disease and 139 individual payments in respect of VWF amounting to £0.66 million.
225W