§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average amount of compensation paid to former miners is for(a) vibration white finger and (b) emphysema. [161016]
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§ Mr. HainWith regards to vibration white finger, the Department is not yet able to make full and final offers in many cases as there are some elements of compensation (for example, claims for loss of services) that still have to be agreed with the miners' solicitors. However, interim payments are made in the meantime in respect of general damages. The average payment after medical assessment is £6,828. The average payment across all full and final and interim payments is £5,790.
In relation to compensation for respiratory disease, the average settlement is £4,982. However, this mainly reflects Expedited Offers paid on the basis of spirometry results which account for the large majority of settlements to date.
There have been 5,025 interim payments made, averaging £3,000 based on spirometry results. The Department has also paid 5,521 bereavement awards, averaging £8,200 and 14,764 payments of £2,000 to claimants who have received Industrial Injuries Benefit for Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. The average payment across all full and final payments and interim payments is £3,914.
§ Ms OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners have received compensation for(a) vibration white finger and (b) emphysema. [161017]
§ Mr. HainThe Department has made 47,253 individual payments, including interims and full and final payments, in respect of vibration white finger, totalling £273.6 million.
In respect of respiratory disease, 31,188 individual payments, including interims and full and final settlements, have been paid to former miners, totalling £98.2 million. In addition, there have been 5,521 bereavement awards totalling £45.5 million.