§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 13 March 2003,Official Report, column 361, on small coal mines, if she will set out the results of her meeting on 19 March 2003; and if she will make a statement. [105048]
§ Ms HewittAt the meeting between the Department, the small mines representatives and the claimants' solicitors on 19 March, the small mines representatives confirmed their agreement in principle to sign up to the Claims Handling Agreement for respiratory disease as soon as detailed terms could be agreed between the parties. This was confirmed by Counsel for the small mines at the court hearing on 20 March. However, before this can be achieved, all parties await sight of the expert's report commissioned by the claimants' solicitors, covering issues such as dust levels, dust suppression and respirator usage in small mines. This report responds to the expert's report produced by the small mines representatives and is expected to be available at the end of April. It will help to inform the final negotiations on the terms under which the small mines will accede to the Claims Handling Agreement.