Billions given to miners that sacrificed health to power country

Former miners and their families have now received over £2.3 billion in compensation for work-related diseases, according to figures released by the government this week.


Trade and Industry Minister Nigel Griffiths stated that, over the past four years, the British government had paid out over £1.1 billion to compensate more than 170,000 miners for injuries relating to vibration white finger, as well as a further £1.2 million to around 226,000 with respiratory diseases as a result of their work.

Mr Griffiths stated that the pay off was part of the largest health compensation scheme in the world.

“We have paid a total of over £2.3 billion to nearly 400,000 people, with individual payments of up to 130,000 for vibration white finger and 370,000 for respiratory diseases,” he stated.

“These figures show the impact of the payments on the economy of coalfield communities. The government is honouring the debt to former miners who sacrificed their health to power this country.”

The 25 constituencies to have received the most money in payments under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme since its inception in 1999 were also announced in a written parliamentary answer.

By Jane Kettle

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