Written question asked by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) on Thursday, 17 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will suspend her Department's handling agreement with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers subsidiary company Vendside while concerns raised about financial irregularities are investigated.

Answer: Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will suspend her Department's handling agreement with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers subsidiary company Vendside while concerns raised about financial irregularities are investigated. [223380] Nigel Griffiths: [holding answer 22 March 2005]: No. Suspending the agreement with Vendside who have handled 59,000 claims would freeze payments to all the sick miners and their widows currently using Vendside. To date I am not aware that the hon. Member has been able to substantiate his claims of financial irregularity.

Secondary information