§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many widows of employees of his Department have been paid compensation because their husband's deaths were attributable to asbestosis over the past 10 years; what is the average amount of compensation paid (a) over the past 10 years and (b) over the past five years; and what is the highest sum paid in compensation to the widow of an employee of his Department whose death was attributable to asbestosis.
§ Mr. LeeThe information is not available in the form requested and it could not be provided without disproportionate staff effort. Records of asbestosis settlements do not distinguish between widows and others. Awards are subject to large variations since they depend on age, earnings capacity and potential, domestic circumstances, special hardship and employment prospects. Any average produced by dividing the total amount paid by the number of settlements would therefore be meaningless.