Many miners are suffering from lung diseases caused by coal dust

Miners in the north-east of England who feel they are due compensation over ill health caused by respiratory disease, have less than a year to make a claim.

Energy Minister Brian Wilson has announced that the cut-off date for the British Coal respiratory disease scheme will now be 31 March, 2004.

A national and regional advertising campaign is underway to encourage ex-pitmen, and widows and family members of deceased miners to claim now.

Mr Justice Turner, the High Court judge who oversees the respiratory disease litigation, has confirmed the scheme can close in spring 2004.

Mr Wilson said: "It is essential that all those former miners, and their families, who are yet to claim, contact a solicitor or their union in order to lodge their claim as soon as possible.

"I recognise the sacrifice that was made by the many thousands of men who worked in this country's coal industry and we must ensure that this is repaid as quickly and fairly as possible."

Court process

The government says the coal health compensation scheme is the largest personal injury scheme in British history.

It says around �1.7m a day is paid out in compensation for respiratory and vibration related diseases.

The closure means that no new claims will be processed under the scheme after 31 March 2004.

Any claims made after this date will be handled through the normal Court processes.

The compensation scheme came about after a court case in 1998, British Coal was found negligent in relation to lung diseases, many of which are caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust.

The liabilities of British Coal transferred to the DTI under the terms of the Coal Industry Act 1994.

The judges ordered DTI to work with solicitors representing miners to formulate a scheme to cover lung disease.