Written question asked by Hugh Bayley (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 October 1996. It was answered by John Watts (Conservative) on Monday, 14 October 1996 on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Dept of Transport

Question: How many former employees of British Rail Engineering Ltd, York, carriageworks have submitted claims for compensation for contracting an asbestos-related disease; and, of these, how many have (a) died and (b) had their claims settled; what is the average length of time these claims have taken to settle; and what action British Rail is taking to speed up the settlement of such claims. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former employees of British Rail Engineering Ltd., York carriageworks, have submitted claims for compensation for contracting an asbestos-related disease; and, of these, how many have (a) died and (b) had their claims settled; what is the average length of time these claims have taken to settle; and what action British Rail is taking to speed up the settlement of such claims. [40234] Mr. Watts: Forty-seven former employees submitted claims and 27 have been settled. Information on the number of people who have died since submitting claims is not available, as some may have died after their claims were settled. The average time to settle claims is 2.1 years. The time taken to settle claims is, to a large extent, beyond the control of Railway Claims Ltd. as claims can be processed only when all the relevant information is received from the claimant's solicitor.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 40234; 282 c689W;282 c687W
Session: 1995-96
Subjects: Compensation Death Administrative delays Asbestosis Industrial diseases British Rail Engineering
Contains statistics: Yes