HC Deb 24 July 1998 vol 316 cc704-5W
Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have received compensation for mesothelioma in each of the last 10 years; and what was the total amount of compensation received. [51900]

Angela Eagle

The table provides details of the number of claimants paid under the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 in each of the last 10 years. A complete breakdown of which claims were paid for mesothelioma is not available. However, virtually all claims received by DETR today under the 1979 Act are for asbestos-related diseases. An analysis of claimants in 1996–97 revealed that over 70 per cent. of all claims received were from sufferers of mesothelioma. The Department does not hold figures for civil claims.

Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979: Statistics
Year Number of sufferers paid Number of dependants paid Total number of payments Total amount (£)
1988–89 25 30 55 499,098
1989–90 52 53 105 712,184
1990–91 74 73 147 1,380,260
1991–92 94 55 149 1,434,072
1992–93 93 69 162 1,954,086
1993–94 126 76 202 2,271,666
1994–95 185 122 307 3,474,975
1995–96 236 127 363 4,149,087
1996–97 301 152 453 5,463,060
1997–98 283 108 391 4,962,659