§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many applications for compensation have been dealt with under the scheme providing payment to mineworkers suffering from bronchitis or emphysema in each of the last six months; and how many applicants have died during this period. [HL2433]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleIn the last six months the department has made over 5,400 expedited and interim payments totalling £25.3 million to former miners, suffering from chronic bronchitis and emphysema and their families broken down as follows:
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May to Date 627 516 1,235 956 1,012 716 349 During the last six months IRISC, the department's claims handling agents, has been informed of 1,298 claims where the claimant has died broken down as follows:
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May to Date 234 288 309 170 168 73 56 In all these cases the claims will be continued by the claimant's widow or dependants. In addition, where the claimant's death certificate shows that one of the respiratory disease for which British Coal was found liable either caused or materially contributed to the death, the department will also make a bereavement award to the claimant's widow.