Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2004. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2004 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, what steps she has taken to recover costs from solicitors under the Coalminers' Compensation Scheme where conditional fee agreements have been invalidated.

Answer: John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to recover costs from solicitors under the Coalminers' Compensation Scheme where conditional fee agreements have been invalidated. [203838] Nigel Griffiths: The respiratory disease Claims Handling Agreement (CHA), in accordance with the High Court judgment, makes detailed provision for the payment of costs to claimants' solicitors. The Department believes that the CHA provides for adequate remuneration for solicitors and that no additional payments are therefore justified. The CHA does not allow for the payment of a success fee under a conditional fee agreement by the Department and as such we do not and have not made any such payments.

Secondary information