HC Deb 30 November 2000 vol 357 cc751-2W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the average length of time taken to process a claim for compensation on behalf of coal miners' suffering from(a) emphysema and (b) chronic bronchitis; and what steps he is taking to speed up payments. [140449]

Mr. Byers

This information is not available in the form requested.

As to speeding up the process, we are working with the solicitors representing the claimants and our contractors to streamline the complex procedures where ever possible. At the High Court hearing in Sheffield two weeks ago Mr. Justice Turner, the High Court judge with responsibility for the British Coal respiratory litigation, praised the efforts and commitment of all concerned to improve the progress on what is the largest personal injury litigation ever in the UK, while recognising that significant improvements still needed to be made. He also went on to say that the complexity of the procedures is a necessary part of ensuring that claimants get in full the fair compensation due to them.

With compensation for vibration disease, over £270 million has been paid out in coal health compensation so far. Last week compensation payments were totalling £1 million a day.