Pneumoconiosis (Hansard, 17 December 1979)

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications he has received from former coal miners for compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979; and how many of these appear, prima facie, to fall within the scope of this Act.

§ Mr. Mayhew
There have been about 40 applications where employment of a kind which might have caused pneumoconiosis has been solely or predominantly in coal mining.
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In none of these cases has entitlement to a payment been established. A few such applications are still being investigated, but virtually all former coal miners will fail to satisfy the entitlement conditions, either because they have a former employer, generally the National Coal Board, still in business, or because they have received compensation under the National Coal Board's pneumoconiosis compensation scheme, or both.

§ Dr. John Cunningham
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out a comparison of the compensation available to coal miners or their depen-

SUFFERERS

Percentage assessment at the relevant date^* Age National Coal Board Scheme 1974 Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979

10 per cent. … … … … 42 3,000 7,200

10 per cent. … … … … 57 1,000 2,400

10 per cent. … … … … 72 350 825

20 per cent. … … … … 47 4,250 8,500

20 per cent. … … … … 62 1,250 2,500

40 per cent. … … … … 52 7,000 11,250

40 per cent. … … … … 67 1,200 1,925

100 per cent. … … … … 57 8,000 12,800

100 per cent. … … … … 72 2,350 3,750

DEPENDANTS OF DECEASED SUFFERERS†

National Coal Board Scheme 1974 Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979

Percentage assessment of sufferer at relevant dates^* Age Age of sufferer at death If sufferer died as a result of the disease If sufferer did not die as a result of the disease If sufferer died as a result of the disease If sufferer did not die as a result of the disease

10 per cent. … … 42 57 2,450 2,000 5,875 4,800

10 per cent. … … 42 72 2,950 2,650 7,100 6,375

20 per cent. … … 47 62 3,400 3,000 6,800 6,000

20 per cent. … … 47 72 4,000 3,700 8,125 7,400

40 per cent. … … 52 62 5,200 4,450 8,300 7,100

40 per cent. … … 52 72 6,350 6,050 10,400 9,675

100 per cent. … … 57 67 5,550 5,250 9,125 8,400

100 per cent. … … 57 77 6,300 6,000 10,325 9,600

^* The relevant date is the date from which disablement benefit became payable under the National Coal Board scheme and the date on which a pneumoconiosis medical board first determined the disabled person was suffering from the disease under the Act.

† Dependants of sufferers who died on or after 26 January 1970 under the National Coal Board scheme; all dependants in so far as the relevant information is available under the Act.

No meaningful comparison can be made between payments under the Act and those under the NCB scheme in respect of sufferers first certified as suffering from pneumoconiosis after 1 October 1974, because in these cases the NCB scheme includes provision for weekly payments related to the current levels of earnings in the coal industry.
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dants who have contracted pneumoconiosis with that available to beneficiaries under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 to illustrate the levels of payment for comparable age and amount of disability.

§ Mr. Mayhew
Some sample comparisons between amounts payable under the National Coal Board's pneumoconiosis compensation scheme to or in respect of sufferers first certified as suffering from the disease prior to 1 October 1974, and those payable under the Act are given in the following tables. It should, of course, be remembered that the value of money has fallen by 50 per cent since 1974.

SUFFERERS
Percentage assessment at the relevant date^*	Age	National Coal Board Scheme 1974	Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979
10 per cent.	…	…	…	…	42	3,000	7,200
10 per cent.	…	…	…	…	57	1,000	2,400
10 per cent.	…	…	…	…	72	350	825
20 per cent.	…	…	…	…	47	4,250	8,500
20 per cent.	…	…	…	…	62	1,250	2,500
40 per cent.	…	…	…	…	52	7,000	11,250
40 per cent.	…	…	…	…	67	1,200	1,925
100 per cent.	…	…	…	…	57	8,000	12,800
100 per cent.	…	…	…	…	72	2,350	3,750

DEPENDANTS OF DECEASED SUFFERERS†
					National Coal Board Scheme 1974	Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979
Percentage assessment of sufferer at relevant dates^*	Age	Age of sufferer at death	If sufferer died as a result of the disease	If sufferer did not die as a result of the disease	If sufferer died as a result of the disease	If sufferer did not die as a result of the disease
10 per cent.	…	…	42	57	2,450	2,000	5,875	4,800
10 per cent.	…	…	42	72	2,950	2,650	7,100	6,375
20 per cent.	…	…	47	62	3,400	3,000	6,800	6,000
20 per cent.	…	…	47	72	4,000	3,700	8,125	7,400
40 per cent.	…	…	52	62	5,200	4,450	8,300	7,100
40 per cent.	…	…	52	72	6,350	6,050	10,400	9,675
100 per cent.	…	…	57	67	5,550	5,250	9,125	8,400
100 per cent.	…	…	57	77	6,300	6,000	10,325	9,600
^* The relevant date is the date from which disablement benefit became payable under the National Coal Board scheme and the date on which a pneumoconiosis medical board first determined the disabled person was suffering from the disease under the Act.
† Dependants of sufferers who died on or after 26 January 1970 under the National Coal Board scheme; all dependants in so far as the relevant information is available under the Act.