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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many compensation claims for chronic bronchitic emphysema his Department has received from mineworkers since May 1997; and how many claims have been settled; [139289] (2) how much money has been paid since May 1997 in respect of compensation claims for chronic bronchitic emphysema; and if he will estimate the total liability; [139292] (3) how many claims submitted to his Department for compensation for chronic bronchitic emphysema are in respect of mineworkers who have since died. [139291] Mr. Byers: A class action in this matter first began in 1992. No payments were made prior to May 1997 due to the failure of the previous Administration and British Coal to concede liability in the court. On assuming the liabilities we made this a priority and agreement was reached in September 1999. Since May 1997, 119,700 claims have been received and the Department has made over 26,000 individual payments to claimants in respect of compensation for respiratory diseases, totalling £86 million. The Department anticipates that the final costs on respiratory disease compensation could be about £1.5 billion, but the Government have always stated they will meet whatever the costs of compensating the valid claimants. 20,728 claims have been made in respect of miners who have died since 1992. Of these, 13,518 died between 1992 and 1998.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c597-8W;357 c597W; 139289;139292;139291

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Compensation Costs Coal Bronchitis Liability Industrial diseases Emphysema Mining Widowed people Respiratory system

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk