HC Deb 08 January 2001 vol 360 cc362-3W
Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects all outstanding claims for compensation from ex-miners from the East Kent coalfield to be settled. [144046]

Mrs. Liddell

I am not able to provide specific time scales for the East Kent coalfield. However, given the number of claimants—130,000 nationwide—it will take at least three years to settle the last of these claims. This must be set against 15 years or more it would take if each case were dealt with on an individual basis through the courts.

We expect that by Spring 2002 we will have processed the claims for the oldest and most ill. Claims from elderly widows of deceased miners are also being dealt with first, wherever possible.

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to speed up the settlement of claims for ex-miners seeking compensation for respiratory disease and vibration white finger. [144048]

Mrs. Liddell

Progress in dealing with claims for respiratory disease must be speeded up. To tackle this, our contractors have increased the numbers of medical testing centres and record scanning teams, and are urgently seeking to recruit more doctors. A review and change has taken place resulting in how doctors are used and paid. We are also seeking to streamline the medical assessment process. These proposals are being taken forward with the claimants' solicitors.

In September, I announced new fast-track proposals of higher expedited offers for those who have already had such an offer and also for new classes of claimants. This is now completed and it has generated over 15,200 offers worth £74 million.

On vibration white finger, initial assessments on all the existing claimants will be complied by the end of next year. A further assessment may be required for those claimants seeking compensation for loss of services, but this is still under consideration.

In total, the Department has now paid out nearly £300 million in compensation for both respiratory and vibration-related diseases, with around £1 million being paid out each day.

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners from the East Kent coalfield have died while waiting for settlement of their compensation claims for(a) respiratory disease and (b) vibration white finger in the last five years. [144047]

Mrs. Liddell

The Department's claim handling agents have registered a total of 61 claims by former miners in the East Kent coalfields who have died in the last five years, and where the date of death is after the date of claim. Of these, 52 were claiming for respiratory disease and nine were claiming for vibration white finger.

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 diseases for which British Coal were found liable either caused or materially contributed to the death, the Department will also make a bereavement award to the claimant's widow. To date, the Department has made 37 bereavement awards to widows in the East Kent coalfields.

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been(a) made and (b) settled by ex-miners from the east Kent coalfield for compensation for (i) respiratory disease and (ii) vibration white finger in the last five years. [144045]

Mrs. Liddell

In the last five years, the Department has registered 947 claims for respiratory disease from ex-miners and their families in the east Kent coalfields. In addition, some 1,073 claims have been registered for vibration white finger.

In the east Kent coalfields, the Department has settled 56 claims for respiratory disease and 130 claims for vibration white finger.

In addition, the Department is making interim payments wherever possible and in the east Kent coalfields has made some 343 payments to respiratory claimants, a further 164 payments have been to vibration white finger claimants.