§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners from(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster claiming compensation for chronic bronchitis and emphysema have died before their claims were fully processed. [149631]
§ Mr. HainIRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have been informed of 10 claimants in the Barnsley area who, sadly, died before their claims were fully processed, and 14 claimants in the Doncaster region.
In all these cases, the claim will be continued by the claimants' widow or dependants. In addition, where a claimant's death certificate shows that one of the respiratory disease conditions 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.