| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
British Coal Compensation
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who are the 30 highest-earning firms of solicitors in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation; and what amount of legal costs was paid to each such firm. [HL1054]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott): The following table details the claimant representatives earning the most from the respiratory disease litigation:
| Claimant Representative | Total Costs Paid (£m) |
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who are the highest earning firms of solicitors in the British Coal white finger litigation; and what amount of legal costs was paid to each such firm. [HL1055]
Lord Truscott: The following table details the claimant representatives earning the most from the vibration white finger litigation:
| Claimant Representative | Total Costs Paid (£m) |
15 Jan 2007 : Column WA120
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether they will assist miners and widows in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal white finger litigation to seek redress against those solicitors who charged them success fees, administration charges or union fees; and, if so, whether they will instruct their claims handlers to deliver to past and present claimants advice on their rights. [HL1056]
Lord Truscott: The department has made considerable efforts to secure repayment of fees taken and to make claimants aware of their options if they have been charged a fee. Ultimately this is a matter for the Regulation and Consumer Complaints Boards of the Law Society with which we continue to work to seek redress. The department’s Compensation for Miners newsletter will continue to provide advice on this issue and the consumer complaints service continues to advertise and to receive and investigate complaints.
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total sum of legal costs, including those incurred at trial and paid to solicitors and barristers in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation. [HL1191]
Lord Truscott: As at 13 December 2006, the total paid in legal costs in the respiratory disease litigation was £821.5 million. In addition, the department had spent £35 million on its own legal advice and representation, although we cannot apportion this between claims types.
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total sum of legal costs, including those incurred at trial and paid to solicitors and barristers in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation. [HL1192]
Lord Truscott: As at 13 December 2006, the total paid in legal costs in relation to the vibration white finger litigation was £102 million. In addition, the department had spent £35 million on its own legal advice and representation, although we cannot apportion this between claims types.
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many claimants continue to await payment of their compensation in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation. [HL1193]
Lord Truscott: There are currently about 183,000 respiratory disease claims (31 per cent) that have yet to reach settlement. Many of those claimants will have received interim compensation payments.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |