§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for miners' compensation are outstanding in(a)Cynon Valley and (b)the rest of Wales. [3230]
§ Mr. WilsonIRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 3,559 outstanding claims in respect of respiratory disease in the region of Cynon Valley as defined by the postcodes with prefixes CF 37, 44 and 45. There are 25,155 outstanding claims in the rest of Wales. 105W With regards to vibration white finger, VWF, there are 1,736 outstanding claims in Cynon Valley and 11,641 outstanding claims in the rest of Wales.
Following recent significant progress, the rate of assessments has increased from 8,000 at the beginning of the year to over 25,000 now. In Wales alone assessments have increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Around 500 claims a week are now being reviewed following the Medical Assessment Process.