§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many compensation claims for chronic bronchitic emphysema his Department has received from mineworkers since May 1997; and how many claims have been settled; [139289]
(2) how much money has been paid since May 1997 in respect of compensation claims for chronic bronchitic emphysema; and if he will estimate the total liability; [139292]
(3) how many claims submitted to his Department for compensation for chronic bronchitic emphysema are in respect of mineworkers who have since died. [139291]
§ Mr. ByersA class action in this matter first began in 1992. No payments were made prior to May 1997 owing to the failure of the previous Administration and British Coal to concede liability in the court. On assuming the liabilities, we made this a priority and agreement was reached in September 1999. Since May 1997, 119,700 claims have been received and the Department has made over 26,000 individual payments to claimants in respect of compensation for respiratory diseases, totalling £86 million. The Department anticipates that the final costs on respiratory disease compensation could be about £1.5 billion, but the Government have always stated they will meet whatever the costs of compensating the valid claimants. 20,728 claims have been made in respect of miners who have died since 1992. Of these, 13,518 died between 1992 and 1998.
598W
£ East London Northern Ireland North North West Scotland South East South West South Yorkshire West Midlands and Wales Total 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 Total 120,997 140,702 76,318 142,009 65,271 65,134 188,102 67,078 253,418 123,402 1,242,431 1 April 2000 to 31 October 2000 Trade Sector Clothing/Footwear 3,794 3,814 0 0 736 2,303 0 0 43,269 38,551 92,467 Retail 7,079 9,862 35,551 17,235 15,608 17,990 6,326 12,415 5,185 19,177 146,428
§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bereavement awards have been granted to the widows of former miners suffering from(a) chronic bronchitis and (b) emphysema; what are the maximum and minimum bereavement awards granted; and what is the average amount of bereavement awards granted to date. [140338]