To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 152–53) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, whether they have made any assessment of (a) the payment of £4,484 in costs to solicitors representing two claimants, each awarded under 50p compensation; (b) the payment of £51,566 in costs to solicitors representing 23 claimants, each awarded between 51p and £1 compensation; (c) the payment of £569,468 in costs to solicitors representing 254 claimants, each awarded under £5 compensation; (d) the payment of £9,290,848 in costs to solicitors representing 4,144 claimants, each awarded under £50 compensation; and (e) the payment of £100,226,368 in costs to solicitors representing 44,704 claimants, each awarded under £500 compensation; and, if so, what were their findings and whether there are any lessons to be learned. [HL2094]

The department has not made any such assessments. However, the department has accepted the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee's conclusions that its initial negotiations with solicitors has led to significant costs. Lessons learnt from this would be applied in the event we find ourselves in a similar position in the future.

Under the coal health compensation schemes, solicitors are paid for their work according to an agreed tariff. The number of claims each solicitor handles is outside the department's control as each claimant chooses their representative. The department negotiated the tariff for the work required to progress claims based on the anticipated volume of claims at the time and the processes involved in handling the claims. The work undertaken by solicitors is similar regardless of the level of compensation that falls due to the claimant.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 152–53) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, how many claimants were awarded compensation of under £2,242. [HL2095]

The total number of claims received under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease scheme was 592,000. Of these 287,055 claimants were awarded compensation under £2,242 in full and final settlement as at 8 March 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 153–54) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, whether they have made any assessment of (a) the payment of £671,558 in costs to solicitors representing 479 claimants, each awarded under £500 compensation; and (b) the payment of £5,201,420 in costs to solicitors representing 3,710 claimants, each awarded under £750 compensation; and, if so, what were their findings and whether there are any lessons to be learned. [HL2096]

The department has not made any such assessments. However, the department has accepted the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee's conclusions that its initial negotiations with solicitors has led to significant costs. Lessons learnt from this would be applied in the event we find ourselves in a similar position in the future.

Under the coal health compensation schemes solicitors are paid for their work according to an agreed tariff. The number of claims each solicitor handles is outside the department's control as each claimant chooses their representative. The department negotiated the tariff for the work required to progress claims based on the anticipated volume of claims at the time and the processes involved in handling the claims. The work undertaken by solicitors is similar regardless of the level of compensation that falls due to the claimant.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 153–54) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, how many claimants were awarded compensation of under £1,402. [HL2097]

The total number of claims received under vibration white finger scheme was 170,000. Of these 5,069 claimants were awarded compensation under £1,402 in full and final settlement as at 8 March 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many claimants in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation died after registering their claims but before receiving their final award of compensation. [HL2098]

The total number of claims received under chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) scheme was 592,000. Of these 21,658 claimants died before receiving their full and final compensation as at 8 March 2009.

A further 1,752 claims are yet to be settled where the claimant has died since registering their claim. The COPD scheme is due to be substantially completed on 30 November 2009, and the department expects any residual claims to reach settlement during 2010.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many claimants in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation died after registering their claims but before receiving their final award of compensation. [HL2099]

The total number of claims received under the vibration white finger is 170,000. Of these 5,768 claimants died before receiving their full and final compensation as at 8 March 2009.

A further 25 claims are yet to be settled where the claimant has died since registering their claim. However, the VWF scheme is due to be substantially completed by May 2009.