Miners compensation breakthrough

Up to 24,000 Welsh miners are expecting compensation

The government has announced that it will speed up payments and extend the deadline for miners' compensation claims.

Wales Office Minister David Hanson welcomed the news and said the development had followed frustration at the slowness of the whole process.

A fast track will ensure that £100m in compensation will have been paid out to miners by Christmas, Mr Hanson added.

Many ex-miners have chest diseases

Up to 24,000 miners in Wales - or their widows - are hoping to receive compensation for chest diseases developed while working in the dust-filled pits.

A compensation package was agreed in March last year, with miners expecting to receive between £1,500 and £20,000.

But to date, just £24.5m in compensation has been paid out, £18.5m for respiratory illnesses, according to Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy.

Lawyers acting for them claim just a handful have been settled, while some miners have only received interim payments.

The main problem has been getting medical tests carried out.

Solicitors acting on behalf of miners' families want assurances that a framework will be put in place to issue compensation by early next year.

The DTI has said it is doing all it can to speed up compensation claims.