§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all eligible compensation claims for those suffering from coal-related diseases are submitted before March 2004. [140046]
§ Nigel GriffithsFollowing Lord Justice Turner's agreement to a cut-off date of 31 March 2003 for submitting respiratory disease claims under the Claims Handling Agreement, the Department implemented a 975W comprehensive communication plan to ensure that the date was communicated as widely and expeditiously as possible.
We have written to all widows who receive pensions under the Mineworkers Pension Scheme.
Under the plan we have carried out two comprehensive newspaper advertising campaigns and will carry out a further two such campaigns before the cut-off date. The Department's advert has also been carried in a number of coal industry publications and the Department's own "Compensation for Miners" newsletter.
The budget for this is £100,583.
References to the cut-off date are also carried on both of the Department's websites—www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth and www.coalclaims.com.