HC Deb 10 May 2004 vol 421 cc78-9W
John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been registered under the coalminers' compensation scheme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger by Beresfords Solicitors in each year since the scheme began to the latest date for which figures are available. [171640]

Nigel Griffiths

As of 7 May 2004 the figures are as follows:

COPD VWF
1995 0 5
1996 17 23
1997 4 29
1998 120 45
1999 373 413
2000 2,697 4,270
2001 1,872 1,196
2002 6,788 5,317
2003 50,914 347
2004 16,886 0
Total 79,671 11,648
Note:
The COPD claim receipts are those claims that are fully registered, i.e. exclude partially registered claims (website claims yet to be fully registered on ICMS due to a submission error during input) and claims in the holding policy (pool of claims accepted with minimum data, awaiting further information to permit cross referencing and duplicate checks prior to full registration).

John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average final settlement for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger was for the top 10 solicitors as determined by fees charged to her Department under the miners' compensation scheme. [170740]

Nigel Griffiths

As of 6 May 2004 the figures are as follows:

Top 10 Solicitors1 2Average full and final settlement (£)
Thompsons 9,187
Hugh James Ford Simey 9,390
Raleys Solicitors 8,683
Top 10 Solicitors1 2Average full and final settlement (£)
Browell Smith and Co. 8,175
Mark Gilbert Morse 4,373
Graysons 4,420
Beresfords Solicitors 1,679
Union of Democratic Mineworkers 4,532
Watson Burton 4,851
Towells Solicitors 8,581
1'Top 10' solicitors are in descending order and based on solicitors costs received.
2Average full and final settlements include claims denied/withdrawn.

John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which 10 solicitors had the most new claims lodged under the miners' compensation scheme in 2004. [170741]

Nigel Griffiths

As at 6 May 2004 the figures are as follows:

Top 10 Solicitors1 Claim Receipts in 20042
Raleys Solicitors 19,890
Beresfords Solicitors 16,886
Avalon 13,797
Browell Smith & Co. 13,363
Hugh James Ford Simey 13,180
Thompsons 12,820
Delta Legal 6,818
Corries 4,750
AMS Law 4,697
Union of Democratic Mineworkers 4,145
1'Top 10' solicitors are in descending order and based on the number of claims received.
2Claim receipts are those claims that are fully registered. These figures exclude claims registered partially on the website (yet to be fully registered within ICMS due to a submission error during input) and claims held within the holding policy (pool of claims accepted with minimum data, awaiting further information to permit cross referencing and duplicate checks prior to full registration).