§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims by(a) ex-miners and (b) widows of families of ex-miners suffering from vibration white finger, chronic bronchitis and emphysema have been processed; and how many still await to be processed, broken down by nation and region of the UK. [69574]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 16 July 2002]: The figures are as follows. They are constantly changing due to the fact that claims continue to be received at the rate of 800 per week for vibration white finger (VWF) and respiratory disease respectively. Claims received very recently are therefore included in the total of "outstanding claims".
Full and final settlements and outstanding claims by region as at 11 July 2002 for VWF VWF outstanding claims Live Widows/families Total Wales 10,312 962 11,274 Scotland 5,377 195 5,572 Nottinghamshire 5,966 1,026 6,992 Yorkshire 35,895 2,444 38,339 North East 28,817 906 29,723 North West 2,564 73 2,637 Midlands 5,836 192 6,028 South 2,367 84 2,451 Other 321 59 380 954W
VWF full and final settlements (including denied/withdrawn) Live Widows/families Total Wales 6,771 219 6,990 Scotland 3,015 138 3,153 Nottinghamshire 4,267 91 4,358 Yorkshire 12,384 364 12,748 North East 10,790 449 11,239 North West 1,714 48 1,762 Midlands 2,014 38 2,052 South 1,163 9 1,172 Other 117 22 139 In addition there are over 10,000 VWF general damages offers with solicitors for consideration.
The Department's claims handlers are unable to provide the breakdown of outstanding offers for VWF by region in the time given.
Full and final settlements and outstanding claims by region for respiratory disease as at 11 July 2002 COPD outstanding claims Alive Widows/families Total Wales 15,165 15,231 30,396 Scotland 5,862 5,645 11,507 Nottinghamshire 5,906 711 6,617 Yorkshire 31,626 16,817 48,443 North East 20,858 28,492 49,350 North West 2,881 2,200 5,081 Midlands 4,475 2,134 6,609 South 2,540 1,428 3,968 Other 920 701 1,621
COPD full and final settlements (including denied/withdrawn) as at 14 July 2002 Alive Widows/families Total Wales 5,019 1,756 6,775 Scotland 1,572 172 1,744 Nottinghamshire 1,799 110 1,909 Yorkshire 9,017 1,314 10,331 North East 5,118 1,031 6,149 North West 913 164 1,077 Midlands 1,358 202 1,560 South 890 103 993 Other 10 6 16 In addition there are over 13,000 full and final offers with solicitors for consideration. The breakdown is:
COPD outstanding offers (including denied) as at 15 July 2002 Total Wales 5,303 Scotland 1,644 Nottinghamshire 1,288 Yorkshire 6,916 North East 4,089 North West 491 Midlands 1,084 South 741 Other 1