HC Deb 28 March 2001 vol 365 cc651-2W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miner claims for compensation for respiratory disease there were(a) as at 30 October 2000 and (b) at present. [155643]

Mr. Hain

[holding answer 27 March 2001]: At 29 October 2000, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, had registered 124,376 claims in respect of respiratory disease. To date, the number of claims initiated is 141,158 and, on average, 1,000 new claims continue to be registered each week.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average settlement figure for those ex-miners who have settled their claims under the fast-track procedure. [155644]

Mr. Hain

Before September last year, expedited offers of between £1,050 and £5,750 were made to claimants in full and final settlement following spirometry (the first stage of the medical process). As a result of the fast-track initiative in September, these offers were increased to between £2,050 and £14,500, the offer being dependent on spirometry results and underground working history with British Coal. In addition, eligibility was broadened to include some claimants who were previously ineligible for an expedited offer. Those who had offers made under the old tariffs received a top-up in line with the new awards. The average settlement figure is £4,700.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the time-scale is for processing claims for compensation from ex-miners and their families in each of the centres in Wales; and what the target date is for the completion of this work for existing cases in each such location. [154839]

Mr. Hain

It is difficult to say how long it will take before the last claim is assessed in Wales. New claims can still be made and nationally there are about 1000 new claims each week. We aim to assess the remainder of the most injured and eldest miners and widows by spring 2002.

MAP resources within South Wales are being increased. We recently opened a new centre in Ammanford, and I will be attending the opening of a further new centre in Ystrad Mynach on 30 March. In North Wales, as the right hon. Member is aware, Healthcall have been asked to cease assessments in May at the centre in Wrexham. They are, however, investigating alternative sites in the area for the Portakabin modular unit with the help of the local council. In addition, Healthcall are in the process of equipping mobile testing units to be used as and when the need arises. With these changes in prospect it is difficult to set targets now for handling the existing claims.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of claims for compensation for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) asthma his Department will receive from ex-miners and their families in Wales in the next 12 months. [154819]

Mr. Hain

It is difficult to forecast the number of further claims of compensation for respiratory disease, including those with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, expected in Wales. Nationwide, there are currently around 1,000 new claims initiated in respect of respiratory disease each week. The number of claims is currently about 140,000.

As to claims for asthma, this is not a condition for which British Coal were found liable and it is therefore not compensable under the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation.