HC Deb 19 January 2004 vol 416 cc1036-7W
Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure the fastest possible completion of compensation payments to former miners for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger. [146116]

Nigel Griffiths

The DTI is working closely with the medical assessment organisation, IRISC, (The Department's claims handlers), solicitors and other representatives of miners and their families to process and settle claims as quickly as possible. So far almost £2 billion has been paid to over 300,000 such miners, their widows and families.

John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many solicitors firms are known to have charged additional fees, above agreed Government fees, for miners' compensation. [147762]

Nigel Griffiths

[holding answer 13 January 2004]On 18 December 2003 I wrote to all 515 firms of solicitors dealing with coal health claims, seeking clarification of whether they charged additional fees and asking those solicitors who had taken a proportion of miners' compensation to repay the money to claimants and their families. I have asked that they provide a response by the 23 January 2004.

To date I have received 160 replies, who all but one have confirmed that they do not double charge. We believe that certainly three other firms have been charging some additional fees, one of which has agreed to repay them.

Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of the arrangements agreed are between her Department and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers with regard to the union's subsidiary company established to process claims under the miners' compensation scheme. [148287]

Nigel Griffiths

The term of the Claim Handling Agreement for all miners' compensation schemes are available in the Libraries of the House or on web.

Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has made representations to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers about the union's policy on charging legal fees for processing miners' compensation claims. [148288]

Mr. Timms

No, nor has the hon. Member ever asked me to.

Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which organisations her Department wrote in December 2003 in relation to legal fees in the Miners' Compensation Scheme; and if she will publish the texts of the letters. [148289]

Nigel Griffiths

I have placed a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.