§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid in fees, and for how many individual cases, under the miners' compensation scheme for(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, broken down by solicitor. [168473]
§ Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 26 April 2004]The information is as follows:
Respiratory Disease Claimants representative1 Cost paid (£ million)2 Number of claims Beresfords 8.9 79,964 Thompsons 38.5 57,340 Hugh James Ford Simey 38.6 56,828 Raleys 27.5 50,164 Avalon 0.6 36,604 Browell Smith & Co. 15.3 32,188 Mark Gilbert Morse 13 25,917 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 9 17,252 Watson Burton 8.8 14,154 Barber & Co. 0.09 13,769 1Top 10 solicitors are in descending order and based on the number of claims received. 2Solicitor's costs include VAT on solicitor's costs and disbursement but exclude generic costs.
Vibration White Finger Claimants representative1 Cost paid (£ million)2 Number of claims Thompsons 9 29,968 Browell Smith & Co 8.6 16,476 Beresfords 3.1 11,648 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 5.5 11,610 Raleys 6.5 11,282 Hugh James Ford Simey 5.8 10,640 Graysons 3.7 8,683 Moss 2.9 7,279 Watson Burton 3.1 5,937 AMS Law 1.8 5,327 1Top 10 solicitors are in descending order and based on the number of claims received. 2Solicitor's costs include VAT on solicitor's costs and disbursement but exclude generic costs.
§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken to claw back payments to solicitors who have imposed additional1158W charges on their clients for work under the miners' compensation scheme for vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [168474]
§ Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 26 April 2004]I have written to solicitors twice asking them to repay any fees taken from clients on top of the fee they received from the DTI. Those who have failed to reply were removed from the DTIs list of solicitors and were referred to the Law Society.
The Government welcome the decision taken by the Law Society, as the solicitors regulator, that it was against their code of practice for solicitors to charge clients for making compensation claims where the DTI is meeting solicitors' costs. DTI officials continue to meet with the Law Society to progress matters.
§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which(a) solicitors and (b) claims handlers have been notified to her Department in relation to additional charging for dealing with vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease miners' compensation cases. [168480]
§ Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 26 April 2004]Complaints regarding double charging by solicitors who are processing claims under the British Coal health schemes are the responsibility of the solicitors' regulator, the Law Society.
I am informed that some 173 complaints have been notified to the Law Society. Of these 63 have been concluded, which have led to repayments being to made to 23 claimants.
In addition I have informed the Law Society of those solicitors who failed to respond satisfactorily to my letters relating to double charging.