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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners from (a) Scotland and (b) the UK claiming compensation for chronic bronchitis and emphysema have died before their claims were fully processed; and how many claims have been fully processed to date. [148211] Mr. Hain: The Department's claim handling agents, IRISC, have registered a total of 6,802 claims by former miners who have died and where the date of death is after the date of claim. Of these 656 were Scottish claimants. In all these cases the claims will be continued by the claimant's widow or dependants. In addition, where the claimant's death certificate shows that one of the respiratory diseases for which British Coal were found liable either caused or materially contributed to the death, the Department will also make bereavement or loss of society awards. The Department has made 4,650 bereavement or loss of society awards, totalling £38.7 million. Of these 258, totalling £2 million, were Scottish claimants. The Department has settled some 7,080 claims in full, with payments totalling £25 million. Of these some 585 settlements, totalling £1.6 million, were to Scottish claimants. In addition the Department has made some 25,000 interim settlements, totalling £83.5 million, with some 2,000 payments, totalling £5.5 million, made to Scottish claimants. In total the Department paid out £21.6 million in coal mining compensation to Scottish respiratory and vibration white finger claimants.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

148211; 362 c251-2W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Compensation Debts Coal Bronchitis Industrial diseases Emphysema Mining Scotland Hand arm vibration syndrome Respiratory system

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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