asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date the British Coal respiratory disease litigation is expected to conclude; and what will be the final cost of the scheme, broken down between (a) compensation paid to claimants; (b) costs paid to claimants' solicitors; (c) costs paid to defence lawyers; (d) payments made to each of their contractors; and (e) administrative and other expenditure incurred by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. [HL4164]

We expect to substantially complete the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) scheme by spring 2009. The anticipated final costs of the scheme, broken down as in the Question, are

(a) compensation paid to claimants: £3.8 billion (estimated);

(b) cost paid to claimants' solicitors: £1.209 million (estimated);

(c) defendant's legal cost: £47 million (estimated). This is a total figure and has not been broken down into schemes;

(d) Capita and other contractors: £638 million (estimated). This is a total figure and has not been broken down into schemes. Medical costs (COPD only): £395 million (estimated); and

(e) the department's internal cost: information not available at this level.