Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how levels of compensation are assessed under the Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme.

The Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme (CIPCS) provides compensation to former mineworkers or their estates.

There are three categories of compensation:

• Lump Sum Payments: Tariffs are determined by the age at the date of onset of the disease and the year of certification. In instances in which there is no Industrial Injuries Disablement (IIDB) and a Death Certificate is relied on, the tariff is based on a 10% disability. Each year the relevant tariffs are increased in line with RPI, with those new figures being applicable from 3 May in respect of certifications within that year (e.g. for a former mineworker certified in October 2012 the correct table would run from 3 May 2012. Whereas for a former mineworker certified in October 2021, the correct table would run from 3 May 2021).

• Progression Payments: These are paid to those who have an increase in disability of more than 20% which is evidenced by an IIDB re-assessment.

• Loss of Earning Allowance Payments: These relatively uncommon payments are made to former mineworkers until they turn, or would have turned, 62. In living claims, payment is subject to being in receipt of one of a number of specific benefits and verification that the qualifying disease caused an inability to work for 28 successive weeks or more.