§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many respiratory specialists work on the medical assessment process for compensating former miners. [5447]
§ Mr. WilsonHealthcall, the company responsible for carrying out the Medical Assessment Process, currently employs 250 respiratory specialists. A further 49 people are currently undergoing training on the MAP and will commence work shortly.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the total number of former miners in Merseyside potentially eligible for the compensation schemes for(a) vibration white finger and (b) respiratory diseases. [5446]
§ Mr. WilsonNationally, over 1,300 new claims are being initiated each week across both schemes, and it is difficult to estimate the eventual total number of claims in Merseyside. The total number of claims registered to date in Merseyside is 778 in relation to vibration white finger (VWF) and 1,383 in relation to respiratory disease. To date 55 per cent. of VWF claimants and almost 45 per cent. of claimants for respiratory disease have attended for a medical assessment.
§ Andy BurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation claims by former miners living in the(a) Leigh constituency and (b) Wigan metropolitan authority have yet to be settled. [4524]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 19 July 2001]: IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, advise me that, in the Leigh1 constituency, 1,995 claims have been registered in respect of respiratory disease. To date, 426 interim payments and 134 payments in full and final settlement have been made. With regard to vibration white finger, (VWF), 969 claims have been initiated, 270 interim payments have been made and 172 claims have been settled.
In the Wigan metropolitan authority2, 3,214 claims have been registered in respect of respiratory disease. 683 interim payments and 134 final settlements have been made to date. In relation to VWF, 1,456 claims have been initiated and 415 interim payments and 243 final settlements have been made so far.
1 Leigh constituency as defined by all postcodes with prefixes WN2–4.6,7
2 Wigan metropolitan authority as defined as all postcodes with prefixes WN 1–7, WA3, M28–29, 46
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§ Paddy TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the compensation payments for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) Vibration white finger made to recipients in Nottinghamshire. [5898]
§ Mr. WilsonAs at the end of June 2001, IRISC, the Department's claim handling agents, have made 1,235 final and 3,328 interim payments, in respect of respiratory disease, amounting to £17.7 million in Nottinghamshire. In addition IRISC have made 3,818 final and 5,474, interim payments amounting to £52.3 million to vibration white finger claimants in Nottinghamshire.