Fast-track payout for miners with lung damage

The government today announced plans to fast-track compensation claims for around 100,00 miners suffering from lung problems.

Nigel Griffiths MP, the DTI minister responsible for the government's Coal Health Compensation Scheme, revealed affected miners will be given the option of taking a breathing test which monitors loss of lung function. Compensation will then be paid at £1,400, £3,700 or £12,900, depending on the severity of the case.

Miners who reject the fast-track scheme can instead wait for a full medical examination and receive compensation commensurate with the examiner's findings.

The government is hoping the fast-track scheme will help to speed up the process of awarding compensation to miners with less severe cases of lung damage, the DTI said.

More than 780,000 applications have been received under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme so far, making it the largest personal injury pay-out in the world. The cost to the government has been around £2.4bn, according to the DTI.

Mr Griffiths MP said: “We are already paying out £2m a day in compensation and this fast-track procedure gives up to 100,00 miners whose lungs have suffered the least damage the opportunity to receive a far quicker payment.”