Mr. HomeRobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of compensation payments to former mineworkers affected by respiratory diseases in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) each of the English regions; how many claims are still outstanding; and when he expects the process to be completed. [87584]
§ Mr. BattleAs at 17 June 1999, IRISC, the Department's claim handling agent, have received some 71,500 claims from former miners and their dependants. These can be broken down into(a) Scotland—5,500; (b) Wales—20,500; and (c) North West—4,100; North East—7,700; North and West Yorkshire—4,700; South Yorkshire—14,100; East Midlands—10,100; West Midlands—3,400; South—1,200; Overseas—200.
The contract for a national programme of spirometry testing for all respiratory disease claimants has been awarded to Healthcall Services Ltd. Healthcall have established testing centres in Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leeds and Glasgow and will shortly be opening at least 17 more in other coalmining areas. The programme of spirometry will enable us to make further interim payments beyond the £25 million already offered and, in some cases, full and final offers to those who may not wish to pursue their claim further.
Discussions have taken place with Scottish solicitors and similar handling arrangements to those in England and Wales are close to being agreed to compensate ex-miners in Scotland.