To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in total he estimates his Department will pay in compensation as result of miners' (a) vibration white finger injuries and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema diseases. [82530]

The gross level of provision for the British Coal health liabilities assumed by the Department is:

	£million
1999–2000	228·2
2000–01	490·3
2001–02	507·5

Due to a number of uncertainties—not least the number of claims likely to be received and the actual levels of compensation payable in individual cases—it is not possible to say how much will be required to meet the specific cost of miners' health claims for vibration white finger, and chronic bronchitis and emphysema.The Government have however made it clear that they will provide the funds necessary to meet the cost of legitimate claims.