Previous Section Index Home Page

15 Oct 2009 : Column 1044W—continued


John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many payments in respect of disputed claims made under the coal health compensation scheme have been made to each of the 50 solicitors' firms which have made the highest number of such claims. [292008]

Mr. Kidney: The following table shows the number of payments made for claims with a Schedule 20 Dispute or a Formal Dispute under the terms of the Claims Handling Agreements that were submitted by the top 50 claimants' representatives (by claim volume) as at 4 October 2009.


15 Oct 2009 : Column 1045W

15 Oct 2009 : Column 1046W
Claimants' representatives Location COPD disputed claim COPD disputed claims costs count

Beresfords Solicitors

Doncaster

15

11

Hugh James

Respiratory Disease Dept

282

248

Raleys Solicitors

Barnsley

242

221

Thompsons Solicitors

Newcastle upon Tyne

94

73

Browell Smith and Co

Newcastle upon Tyne

53

40

Avalon Solicitors

Warrington

2

2

Mark Gilbert Morse

Newcastle upon Tyne

29

24

Thompsons Solicitors

Edinburgh-Scottish claims only

116

92

Union of Democratic Mineworkers

Mansfield

59

52

Barber and Co

Liverpool

11

8

Watson Burton LLP

Newcastle upon Tyne

30

28

Graysons Solicitors

Sheffield

354

253

Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin

Llanelli

110

88

Delta Legal

Manchester

17

16

Ingrams Solicitors

Hull-COPD only

16

14

TLW Solicitors

North Shields

26

18

Birchall Blackburn

Preston

2

1

Corries Solicitors

Glasgow-Scottish claims only

-

0

Beresfords Solicitors

Doncaster (UDM only)

-

0

Towells Solicitors

Wakefield

53

24

Ashton Morton Slack LLP

Sheffield

5

4

Gorman Hamilton Solicitors

Newcastle upon Tyne

2

2

Corries York

York

2

1

Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors

Newcastle upon Tyne

6

6

Irwin Mitchell Solicitors

Sheffield

12

12

Beresfords Solicitors

Doncaster (Scottish claims)

1

1

BRM Solicitors

Chesterfield

11

8

Avalon Solicitors

Manchester (Scottish only)

-

0

Moss Solicitors

Moss UDM claims only

5

4

Ashton Morton Slack LLP

AMS UDM claims only

7

7

Hilary Meredith Solicitors

Wilmslow

1

1

Wake Smith and Tofields Solicitors

Sheffield

3

3

1 Legal Solicitors

Swansea

-

0

Moss Solicitors

Loughborough

2

2

Atteys

Rotherham

12

11

O H Parsons and Partners Solicitors

London

20

19

Mark Gilbert Morse

Newcastle upon Tyne (Scottish only)

3

3

Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers

Victoria

1

1

Recompense Limited

Totnes

-

0

Simpson Millar Solicitors

Leeds

2

1

Onyems and Partners

Essex

5

1

Bailey Bravo Jobling

London

1

1

Shaw and Co Solicitors

Doncaster

18

15

Furley Page

Canterbury

38

35

Mortons Solicitors

Sunderland

18

9

Meloy Whittle Robinson

Preston

2

1

Morisons Solicitors

Edinburgh-Scottish claims only

2

2

Marrons Solicitors

Newcastle upon Tyne

4

3

McConville O'Neill Solicitors

Glasgow-Scottish

-

0

Latham and Co Solicitors

Leicester

6

5

Total

1,700

1,371


Energy Supply: Meters

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the (a) average and (b) maximum premium paid by customers for using pre-payment meters for domestic (i) gas and (ii) electricity supply. [289644]

Mr. Kidney: The most recent figures on tariffs are those for October 2009. The new rules outlawing undue price discrimination came into force in September.

According to the latest available figures prices for an average consumer using 3,300 kWh of electricity per year, indicate an average annual differential of £10 (pre-payment compared with standard credit) and a maximum differential of £38, if prompt payment discounts on standard credit are included. If they are not, these figures are -£5 and £7 respectively.

For an average consumer using 20,500 kWh of gas per year, October 2009 prices indicate an average annual differential of £22 and a maximum differential of £73 if prompt payment discounts are included. Without prompt payment discounts, these figures are -£5 and £58 respectively.

The "minus" figures indicate that in some cases prices for pre-payment meters are lower than those for some standard credit customers.

The average dual fuel pre-payment customer now pays £4 less than the average standard credit dual fuel customer. This compares to a figure of £41 more in July 2008.

Ofgem produces estimates of domestic household energy bills, and these reflect current prices as at October 2009 prices. The maximum and average differentials given here mean the difference between standard credit and pre-payment tariffs available to consumers by a
15 Oct 2009 : Column 1047W
single supplier within one region. Figures for standard credit are complicated by the fact that some suppliers offer a discount to standard credit consumers who pay promptly, so we have noted these variants.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Charlie Whelan

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what matters were discussed at the meeting between the Secretary of State and Charlie Whelan on 29 January 2009. [292178]

Mr. McFadden: My noble Friend the Secretary of State met Mr. Charlie Whelan on 15 January (not on 29 January) in the course of his official duties. They discussed employment issues.

Further Education: Finance

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to give further education colleges greater financial freedom to enable them to make flexible use of funding streams; and if he will make a statement. [293104]

Kevin Brennan: Following consultation in January 2007, the Learning and Skills Council introduced two main funding routes for adult training (Adult Learner Responsive and Employer Responsive). This rationalised the larger number of funding streams that were previously in place and provided colleges and providers with increased ability to move funds between programmes.

We continue to listen to feedback from the sector as part of assessing the impact of introducing the new funding models in 2008/09 academic year. A key aspect of the funding system is ensuring that the full range of adult learners are able to access programmes that meet their needs especially where they are less able to articulate these needs.


Next Section Index Home Page