§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to her answers of 26 November 2001,Official Report, column 681W, and 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 866W, on miners' compensation, if she will list the issues impeding responses to mineworkers' claims for compensation for respiratory disease which are not yet resolved; and in each case if she will set out the progress made towards resolving how to make progress with claims affected by these issues. [31067]
§ Mr. WilsonThe previous answers related to compensation for surface workers in dusty jobs. The Department is seeking to persuade the Claimants' Solicitors' Coordinating Group to put to our respective medical experts the outcome of the surface dust study we have jointly undertaken. The Department hopes that decisions on liability and compensation can be taken quickly in the light of the experts' opinion. Offers of compensation are already being made to mixed workers who worked both underground and in surface dusty occupations.
611W