§ 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:
107W
£ 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