Vibration White Finger

HC Deb 30 June 1999 vol 334 c167W

Mr. Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the timetable for the compensation payments awarded by the High Court to be paid to the former miners diagnosed with Vibration White Finger; and how many people(a) are eligible for payments, (b) are awaiting payments and (c) have received payment in full. [87984]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 24 June 1999]: The Department proposes to settle the bulk of compensation payments awarded by the High Court to former miners diagnosed with Vibration White Finger (VWF) as soon as practically possible, the majority being settled by March 2001.

1. (a) To date the Department has received some 42,000 claims.
2. (b) As at 20 June 1999 there were 37,222 claims outstanding at IRISC, the Department's claim handling agents. However, it is difficult to give an accurate total of claimants awaiting payment until medical evidence has been obtained and an assessment of liability in each of these cases has been completed.
3. (c) As at 20 June 1999 2,748 claimants have received payments in full.

We have awarded the contract for the delivery of the medical assessments to the SEMA Group and are hopeful that significant offers of full and final payments will start flowing in the late summer.