HC Deb 03 December 2003 vol 415 cc106-7W
Mr. Allen:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average cost charged to her Department by solicitors for mining-related diseases claims handling was in each year since claims were first handled, broken down by solicitors' firm; and if she will make a statement. [140678]

Nigel Griffiths:

The solicitors' costs are paid on a tariff basis, under the terms of the Claims Handling Agreements (CHA). Under the CHA the basic costs are:

Nigel Griffiths:

As of 23 November 2003 the figures are:

£ million
COPD
Barber & Co. 0.022
Beresfords 5.6
Browell Smith & Co. 66.4
Graysons 24.9
Hugh James 183.1
Mark Gilbert Morse 30.3
Raleys 104.8
Thompson 183.5
UDM 46.6
Watson Burton 21.6
VWF
Beresfords 15.7
Browell Smith & Co. 84.0
Graysons 44.9
Hugh James 54.3
Kidd Spoor & Harper 25.3
Raleys 64.7
Thompsons 115.0
Towells 29.5
UDM 126.3
Watson Burton 39.0

Mr. Barron:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to date to 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. [141533]

Nigel Griffiths:

As of 23 November 2003 the figures are:

£ million
Top 10 solicitors Total solicitors costs
COPD
Barber & Co. 0.006
Beresfords 4.0
Browell Smith & Co. 13.0
Graysons 8.4
£ million
Hugh James 34.6
Mark Gilbert Morse 9.5
Raleys 22.4
Thompson 33.1
UDM 15.5
Watson Burton 7.3
VWF
Beresfords 1.3
Browell Smith & Co. 8.2
Graysons 3.5
Hugh James 5.5
Kidd Spoor & Harper 1.9
Raleys 6.1
Thompsons 8.6
Towells 2.5
UDM 10.1
Watson Burton 3.0

Mr. Barron:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have had final settlements 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.[141534]

Nigel Griffiths:

As of 23 November 2003 the figures are:

Top 10 solicitors Total settlements
COPD
Barber & Co. 47
Berefords 2,434
Browell Smith & Co. 5,797
Gray sons 4,305
Hugh James 15,607
Mark Gilbert Morse 4,458
Raleys 9,926
Thompsons 14,526
UDM 8,742
Watson Burton 3,547
VWF
Beresfords 1,051
Browell Smith & Co. 9,725
Graysons 1,643
Kidd & Spoor Harper 1,959
Hugh James 5,799
Raleys 6,073
Thompsons 5,915
Towells 2,588
UDM 12,757
Watson Burton 2,390