To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which external solicitors representatives of his Department have met to discuss miners’ compensation; and on how many occasions this has happened in the last three years. (170553)

From the Department’s records we identified meetings with the co-ordinating group representing claimants’ solicitors which includes representatives of Thompsons, Irwin Mitchell and Hugh James, with whom regular meetings are held to progress issues arising.

Officials have also met Beresfords to recover overpayment of Optional Risk Offer Scheme costs. In 2005, there was a meeting with Browell Smith to discuss service improvements.

In addition, the Department’s representatives Capita at meet the solicitors with the most claims through their solicitor liaison programme, and the Department’s officials meet claimants’ representatives through regular monitoring group meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many letters he has received from claimants over his Department's handling of miners' compensation; and how many of those expressed (a) favourable and (b) critical views of his Department's performance. (170555)

Since September 2002 the Department has received 7,189 pieces of correspondence either directly from claimants or through their respective MPs with respect to the coal health compensation schemes. The Department does not maintain statistical information in the format requested. However, the majority of letters received from claimants are seeking information about the progress of their claims.