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Rennie slams delays in payouts for ex-miners
March 12, 2008 3:33 PM
Local Liberal Democrat MP Willie Rennie has criticised the Government for the amount of time it has taken for some ex-coal miners to receive compensation for illnesses that they contracted whilst working down the mines. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee found that some miners have had to wait for more than a decade for their claims to be processed because Ministers underestimated the complexity of the cases. In some cases the claimant has died during the proceedings because of the excessive delays.
The PAC also suggests that over 100,000 people are still waiting to receive their settlements. Over the period that miners have been waiting for payment, the solicitors firms involved have earned something in the region of £1.3bn.
Willie Rennie said:
"The Government's attempts to process these claims swiftly and efficiently have failed disastrously, for people to have to wait for more than a decade is just unacceptable.
"It is also bad news for the taxpayer, who will have to foot the solicitors' bill for all this, with the Public Accounts Committee estimating that the final total could be around £2.3bn.
"I would encourage all former miners who are having difficulties with their compensation claims to contact my office on 841700 as I am keen to help."
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