A STATEMENT FROM EDWARD LEIGH MP
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
National Audit Office report: Coal health compensation schemes
The planning and early implementation of the schemes to compensate miners for serious work related conditions were very poor, leading to significant cost overruns and unacceptable delays in payment for many claimants, some of whom were elderly and infirm.
The Department was under a lot of pressure to go for a swift implementation of the schemes and, as is common under such circumstances, things started to go wrong.
Many claimants had the frustration of waiting for years before help arrived - and some are still waiting for their claims to be dealt with. The lessons arising from the mismanagement of these schemes must be shared widely across government.
Notes for Editors
Requests for further comment from Edward Leigh should be made via Alex Paterson, Select Committee Media Officer, on 020 7219 1589 or 07917 488 488.