§ Paddy TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average payment made in respect of (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger is; and what the equivalent figures are for Nottinghamshire. [176548]
§ Nigel Griffiths[hulling answer 7 June 2004]: To date the figures are:
£ COPD VWF UK Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and
Leicestershire
UK Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and
Leicestershire
Highest settlement 364,537 364,537 113,111 40,127 Average settlement 7,674 5,262 8,288 8,180 settlement Notes:
Settlements can be low or even reduced to nothing if some or all of the factors outlined below have a maximum impact.
1. Compensation offend is dependent on the percentage of disability due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the number of years spent underground after 1954, the date of liability. Discounting is then applied, taking into account any smoking history and the number of years worked before 1954. This is consistent with the High Court judgment. In chronic bronchitis (CB) only claims, the maximum amount payable is £5,604 (rising with the RPI), subject to the relevant discounting mentioned previously.
2. Compensation offered in respect of VWF is dependent on the "staging" (the level of disability). Claims are then discounted taking into account any of the five co-morbid conditions as listed in the Claims Handling Agreement. Claims will also be apportioned according to whether there is any co-defendant involvement.
3. Figures for Nottinghamshire are not available separately.
§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when minimum payment for compensation claims under the Coalminers' Compensation Scheme was last discussed with their representatives. [176801]
§ Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 8 June 2004]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1744.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have had final settlement through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176617]
561W
§ Nigel GriffithsTo date the figures are:
Top 10 solicitors Number of full and final settlements
VWF Hugh James 17,622 Thompsons 17,141 Raleys 12,318 Browell Smith 7,330 Beresfords 6,760 Mark Gilbert Morse 6,495 UDM 5,439 Watson Burton 4,383 Barber and Co. 656 Avalon 388 COPD Browell Smith 11,095 UDM 7,234 Thompsons 7,046 Raleys 6,561 Hugh James 6,278 Moss 4,433 Beresfords 4,126 AMS Law 2,919 Watson Burton 2,584 Graysons 1,899 In terms of numbers of COPD claims received, the rank order of the 'top 10' is—Beresfords, Thompsons, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber and Co.
In terms of numbers of VWF claims received, the rank order of the 'top 10' is—Thompsons, Browell Smith, Beresfords, UDM, Raleys, Hugh James, Graysons, Moss, Watson Burton, AMS Law.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to claimants through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176618]
§ Nigel GriffithsTo date the figures are:
562W
Top 10 solicitors Total damages paid (£million) COPD Thompson 216.8 Hugh James 198.5 Raleys 129 Browell Smith 77.4 Mark Gilbert Morse 43.7 UDM 26.5 Watson Burton 26 Beresfords 13.4 Avalon 1.2 Barber and Co. 0.45 VWF Thompsons 128 Browell Smith 89.8 UDM 72 Raleys 72 Hugh James 58.8 Graysons 49.6 Watson Burton 42.5 Beresfords 39.5 Moss 32.4 AMS Law 22.8 In terms of numbers of COPD claims receive, the rank order of the "top 10" is—Berefords, Thompson, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber and Co.
In terms of number of VWF claims received, the rank order of the 'top 10' is—Thompons, Browell Smith, Beresfords, UDM, Raleys, Hugh James, Graysons, Moss, Watson Burton, AMS Law.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have had interim payments to date through each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176619]
§ Nigel GriffithsTo date the figures are:
Top 10 solicitors Number of claimants who have received an interim payment
COPD Thompsons 10,895 Hugh James 7,708 Raleys 5,129 Browell Smith 4,048 Mark Gilbert Morse 2,246 UDM 1,323 Watson Burton 1,157 Beresfords 384 Avalon 69 Barber and Co. 8 VWF Thompsons 11,723 Raleys 5,752 Browell Smith 5,628 Graysons 5,413 UDM 4,811 Beresfords 4,224 Hugh James 3.899 Watson Burton 3,577 Moss 2,646 AMS Law 1,416 In terms of numbers of COPD claims received, the rank order of the "top 10" is—Beresfords, Thompsons, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber and Co.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to date to each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger of former coalminers. [176620]
§ Nigel GriffithsTo date the figures are:
563W
Top 10 solicitors Solicitors costs paid (£million) COPD Thompsons 39.7 Hugh James 39.1 Raleys 28.9 Browell Smith 15.9 Mark Gilbert Morse 14.3 Beresfords 9.7 UDM 9.2 Watson Burton 9.1
Top 10 solicitors Solicitors costs paid (£ million) Avalon 0.7 Barber and Co. 0.1 VWF Thompsons 9.1 Browell Smith 8.7 Raleys 6.6 Hugh James 5.8 UDM 5.5 Graysons 3.8 Beresfords 3.2 Watson Burton 3.1 Moss 2.9 AMS Law 1.9 In terms of numbers of COPD claims received, the rank order of the "top 10" is—Beresfords, Thompsons, Hugh James, Raleys, Browell Smith, Mark Gilbert Morse, Avalon, UDM, Watson Burton, Barber & Co.
In terms of numbers of VWF claims received, the rank order of the "top 10" is—Thompsons, Browell Smith, Beresfords, UDM, Raleys, Hugh James, Graysons, Moss, Watson Burton, AMS Law.