Fast-track scheme still open

Many former miners suffer from industrial diseases

Former miners whose health suffered from working underground will still be able to claim compensation under a fast track scheme even though the deadline for offers has passed.

The Department of Trade and Industry has revealed that £45 million of the £74 million offered to thousands of sick men under the scheme has still not been claimed.

Energy Minister and Neath MP Peter Hain said on Friday when the deadline expired that money will still be paid if offers are accepted in the next couple of weeks.

Peter Hain: Offers can still be accepted

"We are working desperately hard to get money into the pockets of miners quickly but we find ourselves in an infuriating position," he said.

"Around £45 million is sitting there ready to go, but people are not claiming it."

In total some 250,000 miners have lodged claims with the Government for illnesses ranging from vibration white finger (VWF) to chronic bronchitis and the DTi is still receiving 1,000 new claims a week.

More than 27,000 claims have been lodged in Wales, but so far only 6,900 payments have been made, totalling £26.5m.

Of those, around 860 are full and final settlements.

More than 300 solicitors across the UK are involved in processing claims on behalf of miners under the scheme set up last year.

Mr Hain took over the handling of compensation claims last month when his predecessor Helen Liddell was made Scottish Secretary.

He has moved on the controversy over the delay in claims being settled, saying that priority will be given to paying compensation to older and less well off miners.

Assessments of younger men will be rescheduled.

No final deadline has yet been set for claiming compensation not linked to the fast track scheme.

Earlier this month the minister said non-smoking miners with chest diseases deserve more in compensation from the government than their colleagues who smoked.

He said the system must operate fairly by differentiating between smoking and non-smoking claimants.