Miners' Compensation (Hansard, 20 November 2003)

§ Mr. Skinner
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been paid out in full in each area of the British coalfields; and what the latest total amount paid is. [140156]

§ Mr. Timms
As at the end of October 2003 the regional headline statistics breakdown is:
1431W

§ Mr. Skinner
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims have been paid out in full in the (i) East Midlands and (ii) Bolsover constituencies. [140157]

§ Mr. Timms
As at the end of October 2003 in the Bolsover constituency 4,162 have received an offer in full and final settlement of their claim. In relation to Vibration White Finger, 2,249 have received an offer in full and final settlement. In total we have paid out £48.5 million in interim and full and final settlements to claimants in Bolsover.
The correspondence figures for the Midlands are for respiratory disease 3,000 and for Vibration White Finger 3,000 totalling £5l million.
A breakdown of both regional and constituency headline statistics is available on the Department's website£www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether ex-workers from the phurnacite coking works at Abercwmboi in the Cynon Valley are eligible to claim for bronchitis and emphysema under the Mineworkers' Compensation Scheme; and if she will make a statement.[140255]

§ Nigel Griffiths
Workers in phurnacite coking workers do not fall within the parameters of the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation High Court judgment. As such claims can not be processed under the resulting scheme, but can be pursued as personal injury claims under common law.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will release records of dust levels recorded before 1991 at the phurnacite plant at Abercwmboi in the Cynon Valley. [140256]

§ Nigel Griffiths
The Department has always released dust records in line with requests received through the courts, and will be happy to release such records in the case of litigated phurnacite plant claims.

§ Mrs. Liddell
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners have in Airdrie and Shotts benefited from the Government's health compensation schemes; and what the average level of compensation paid has been to ex-miners in Airdrie and Shotts. [140382]

§ Nigel Griffiths
As at the end of October 2003, 685 have received an offer in full and final settlement of their claim for respiratory disease. In relation to Vibration White Finger, 79 have received an offer in full and final settlement. In total we have paid out £5.4 million in interim and full and final settlements to claimants in Airdrie and Shotts.
We estimate the average payment for respiratory disease is £7,700 and for Vibration White Finger it is £7,200.
A breakdown of both regional and constituency headline statistics is available on the Department's website—www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth.