---

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs;Veterinary Laboratories Agency;Central Science Laboratory

Answer

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims for work-related illness were settled by her Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation. [56078] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 20 May 2002]: The most recent statistics available are for the year 2000 and relate to the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and its agencies; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was not created until June 2001. Records show that in the core Department, there was one case where compensation was awarded for work- related illness, at a cost of £2,000. There were no cases in the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) agencies. There was one case in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). Letter from Prof. Steven Edwards to Mr. Michael Clapham, dated May 2002: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on how many claims for work-related illness were settled by her Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation. The VLA is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for staff, is proactive in monitoring procedures and ensures that comprehensive advice and guidance is available to all staff and managers. VLA is also committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally to work related injuries and illness arising from the Government Revitalising Health and Safety initiative. No claims for work-related illness were settled in 2000. One claim for a work-related accident was settled in 2000. The total cost of this compensation case was £56,073.09--broken down as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. £ Settlement 30,000.00 Costs 26,000.00 Additional travel costs and interest 73.09 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Letter from Professor Mike Roberts to Mr. Michael Clapham, dated 21 May 2002: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory, to your question concerning how many claims for work-related illness were settled in the last year for which records are available, and what the cost was in compensation. There were no claims for work-related illness at CSL in the last year.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

56078; 386 c200-1W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Compensation Costs Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Government departments Industrial diseases

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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