§ 15. Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will arrange for a compensation scheme for ex-National Coal Board workers employed as cokemen and surface workers who contracted chest diseases. [170692]
§ Nigel GriffithsTwo coal compensation schemes were established following court judgements on vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To date 4,143 payments have been made to miners in North-East Derbyshire. There have been no similar court judgements in the case of the other diseases, but claimants are entitled to seek compensation through the common law.