§ 23. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on the number of miners' compensation claims which have been (a) made and (b) settled in Wales. [146544]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI have discussed this issue on several occasions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and with ministerial colleagues.
The number of claims made for respiratory disease in Wales is 27,446 while the total number of claims in Wales settled in full and final terms is 861.
The number of claims made for vibration white finger in Wales is 15,533 while the total number of claims in Wales settled in full and final terms is 3,674.
The Government are determined to see all claims settled as quickly as possible and my ministerial colleagues and I are giving this very full attention. For 243W example, on 4 January I chaired a very constructive first meeting of a Welsh sub-group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group which I established specifically to address coal health issues in Wales. The group will meet on a regular basis and will discuss progress made and ways of further speeding up the processing of coal health claims.