HC Deb 09 November 1998 vol 319 cc55-6W
Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants for compensation arising out of chronic bronchitis and emphysema fall into the age groups(a) 40 to 50, (b) 50 to 60, (c) 60 to 70, (d) 70 to 80 and (e) 80 years and over. [58736]

Mr. Battle

To date the numbers of claims received for chronic bronchitis and for emphysema, for the age groups specified, are:

  1. (a) 2,303
  2. (b) 6,667
  3. (c) 13,759
  4. (d) 17,228
  5. (e) 5,762.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants for compensation arising out of chronic bronchitis and emphysema have received full settlement in respect of their claims. [58728]

Mr. Battle

Pending agreement on a medical assessment process, full and final settlements have so far been made only to the lead cases decided by the court. 7 such settlements have been paid. In addition the Department has made interim payments to 10,047 claimants.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects an agreement to be reached in respect of outstanding compensation claims relating to occupational respiratory disease; and how quickly medical reports could be produced following the conclusion of a handling agreement. [57575]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 3 November 1998]My Department is fully committed to settling all valid occupational respiratory disease claims (COAD) as fairly and promptly as possible. To date this number in excess of 60,000. We have proposed to the plaintiff's solicitors that the claims should be dealt with through a single medical process which should expedite the processing of claims quite significantly compared with the conventional common law route where each party obtains their own medical report. Intense but constructive discussions are now taking place with the plaintiff's solicitors, on what are complex medical matters, within a framework agreed by the court. I hope that good progress will have been made towards resolving the outstanding issues by the end of the year. There will then be a need to procure through tendering the medical services required to deliver the records, reports and examinations required, and for the successful tenderer to put in place the staff and facilities to deliver the service. Subject to a prompt conclusion to negotiations with the plaintiff's solicitors I am hopeful that final settlement of valid claims will start flowing early in the second half of 1999. In the meantime we may be able to extend payment of interim awards.