§ 22. Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress being made on payments under the coal industry health compensation settlement. [144550]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Department continues to pay out around £1 million per day in compensation, and has paid out over £310 million to former miners and their families with claims for respiratory and vibration-related diseases.
§ 31. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation claims he has paid to miners and widows at the latest date for which figures are available. [144559]
§ Mrs. LiddellAs at the end of December the Department had made final settlements to over 6,500 claimants for respiratory diseases—5,860 from former miners and 640 from widows and estates. In addition, the Department had made final settlements to over 19,240 claimants for vibration-related diseases—18,400 from former miners and 840 from widows and estates. Additionally, the Department had made interim payments to a further 15,800 former miners, and 8,600 to their families for claims in respect of respiratory diseases, and a further 21,300 interim payments to claimants for vibration-related diseases.
The Department continues to pay out around £1 million per day in compensation, and has paid out over £310 million as at the end of December.
312W
§ 38. Mr. David TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide additional resources to assist with the processing of health compensation claims from former miners in the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire coalfields. [144566]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Government will not allow the issues of resources to delay settlement.