§ Rachel SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value is of offers made by her claim handlers AON IRISC Claims Management, following the medical assessment procedure examination where COPD respiratory disability has been diagnosed; how many such offers were made in(a) England, 51W (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; how many such offers were accepted and what was their total value in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; what the total value is of such offers paid out by the Department (a) in England, (b) in Wales and (c) in Scotland on a full and final basis and how many cases are involved; what the value of the interim payments made in such cases is; and how many cases are involved in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland. [56410]
§ Mr. WilsonAn analysis of full and final offers and acceptances broken down by region is as follows:
England Scotland Wales Total Offers made: Number 7,080 624 3,321 11,025 Value (£ million) 113.8 10.0 53.3 177.1 Offers accepted and paid: Number 1,505 129 1,075 2,709 Value (£ million) 20.2 2.2 22.9 45.3 In the time available it is not possible to distinguish offers accepted but not yet paid. Offers accepted would be slightly higher than in the table.
The Department does make interim payments in the course of assessing a claim. However, when a full and final offer has been made no further interim payments are offered because we consider it is for the claimants' solicitors and our claims handlers to agree a final settlement. Although, in deserving cases, such as those with a short life expectancy, the Department has made such interim payments and will consider doing so on a case by case basis.