Nearly 750,000 claimants have been registered under the schemes

The government pays out about �2m every weekday to compensate for respiratory and vibration-related injuries.

Yorkshire has taken the largest slice, with �654.4m paid out for respiratory disease and vibration white finger since the scheme began in 1999.

The second largest amount, �572m, has gone to Wales, with �299.6m going to the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire area.

'Debt of honour'

In 1997 and 1998, British Coal was found negligent in the High Court in relation to vibration white finger and respiratory damage respectively.

It had been taken to court under two separate group litigations supported by the mining unions.

In 1999, the liabilities were passed to the Department of Trade and Industry following the break-up of British Coal.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "I am very pleased to announce that this compensation - a debt of honour - now totals �3bn.

"In real terms this means payments have been made to over 417,369 sick miners or the families of the deceased.

"By the time the scheme winds up, we expect to have paid out in the region of �5bn in compensation."

In September last year a "fast-track" scheme was introduced to speed up claims for respiratory disease payments.