§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Wales are claiming compensation for suffering from vibration white finger; and if he will make a statement. [69537]
§ Mr. BattleThe total number of Vibration White Finger claims received by IRISC, the Department's claim handlers, from people in Wales is 6,286.
I am pleased that the complex negotiations between the DTI, who inherited British Coal's liabilities, and the Plaintiff Solicitors Group, who represent the majority of the claimants, have produced an agreement on the compensation levels for miners suffering from VWF. The agreement announced in the High Court in Manchester on 22 January means an end to uncertainty for the some 31,000 ex-miners who have made claims to date. They can now look forward to receiving fair compensation which will be based upon a claimant's British Coal working history, age and the medical assessment of the level of damage caused by the use of vibrating tools.