§ Mr. Stephen O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the change in UK manufacturing output in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [140952]
§ Ms Hewitt:The Budget forecast for manufacturing output shows growth of between ¼ and ¾ per cent. In
COPD Costs VWF1 Costs Settled expedited offers £955 + VAT + disbursements General damages claims in Group 1 occupations £652 + VAT + disbursements Settled full and final offers £1,856 + VAT + disbursements General damages claims in Group 2 occupations £760 + VAT + disbursements Settled chronic bronchitis only £531 + VAT + disbursements 1Costs for handling services claims are not yet agreed. Note:
In addition solicitors received additional payments for handling Grant of Probates, disputes procedures and posthumous claims.
§ Mr. Barron:To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have had interim payments to date through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claim for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coal miners. [141531]
§ Nigel Griffiths:As of 23 November 2003 the figures are:
Top 10 solicitors Number of claimants with interims paid COPD Barber & Co. 3 Beresfords 243 Browell Smith & Co. 5,892 Graysons 2,414 Hugh James 11,327 Mark Gilbert Morse 2,644 Raleys 7,503 Thompsons 15,519 UDM 4,275 Watson Burton 1,744 VWF Beresfords 1,852 Browell Smith & Co. 6,137 Graysons 6,664 Hugh James 4,302 Kidd Spoor & Harper 1,695 Raleys 6,491 Thompsons 13,990 Towells 2,961 UDM 11,451 Watson Burton 4,328
§ Mr. Barron:To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to claimants through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [141532]
106W2003, and growth of between 2 per cent. and 24 per cent. in 2004. A new forecast will be presented in the pre-Budget Report on 10 December.