HC Deb 01 November 2001 vol 373 cc775-6W
20. Vernon Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the miners' compensation scheme. [9570]

Mr. Wilson

In total, more than £600 million has now been paid out. Progress on Vibration White Finger has been maintained, and there are clear signs of progress on respiratory disease. Well over 1,000 medical assessments are now being carried out each week. We expect to see the number of full and final offers increasing sharply over the next few weeks. I recognise the need for constant vigilance to ensure that improvements are sustained.

22. Mr. David

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of miners' compensation claimants have received interim payments. [9572]

Mr. Wilson

As at 14 October the Department has made 40,000 interim payments to respiratory disease claimants, and 40,000 to Vibration White Finger claimants. However, the Department is not able to quote these as a percentage of claimants as some claimants may have received more than one payment.

27. Mr. Kevan Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress being made in processing miners' compensation claims. [9577]

35. Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the miners' health compensation scheme. [9586]

Mr. Wilson

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), on 1 November 2001,Official Report, column 997.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retired coal miners in each of the last five years died before industrial illness compensation was paid to them. [8508]

Mr. Wilson

[holding answer 23 October 2001]: The number of coal miners whose date of death is after their date of claim, and who have not received any compensation, including interim payments, for respiratory disease is broken down as follows:

Number of claimants who have not received any compensation for respiratory disease
1997 209
1998 805
1999 1,377
2000 1,486
2001 1,255