Griffiths Announces Fast-Track Compensation for 100,000 Miners

Nigel Griffiths MP, the DTI Minister responsible for the Government's Coal Health Compensation Scheme, the world's largest personal injury compensation scheme, announced a new fast-track process starting today for miners with lung damage.

Based on a breathing test to monitor the loss of lung function due to coal dust, miners who opt for the test will be entitled to compensation up to £12,900.

The offer is based on the average actual payments made to date, rounded to the nearest £100. Miners can opt for the fast-track scheme or they can opt for a full medical assessment.

Under the fast-track scheme compensation is available at the following rates, depending on the level of assessed lung damage: £1,400 [provisional], £3,700 and £12,900.

Under the present scheme, which involves a full medical assessment, miners have received average payments of £7,800 making a total of £1.3 billion.

More than 780,000 applications have been received under the respiratory disease and the second Vibration White Finger scheme.

On the two schemes, so far £2.4 billion has been paid to over 410,000 miners by the DTI. Today's fast-track arrangements are designed to help those miners whose lungs have suffered the least damage.

Miners with more serious conditions will receive a full medical assessment.

Currently around one third of available respiratory medical consultants [approximately 220] are employed by the DTI, to carry out assessments.

This fast track scheme frees the consultants to concentrate on the more serious cases.

Nigel Griffiths said: "We are already paying out £2 million a day in compensation and this fast-track procedure gives up to 100,000 the miners whose lungs suffered less damage the opportunity to receive a far quicker payment by avoiding the wait for a more extensive medical assessment.

Each miner should decide, in consultation with their solicitor or advisor, whether the fast-track option is best for them. As well as the 100,000 miners who can opt into this scheme, there are 60,000 widows and families who will be eligible for the fast-track scheme from June, based on the late miner's death certificate.

source: A2 Media Group (Last Updated: Monday, 28 February, 2005)

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