THE Government was left embarrassed last night in its bid to force solicitors to hand over compensation cash to miners and their families.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) published a list of 100 law firms that it said failed to respond to questions over the practice of so-called "double charging" in relation to claims for lung disease and vibration white finger.

But it emerged that the list of solicitors who are now no longer approved by the DTI to handle compensation claims was riddled with errors. Some firms ceased trading several years ago.

Under the Government-backed compensation schemes, all claimants' fees are paid but some solicitors have also been charging for successful claims.

Last night, a spokesman for the DTI admitted there were a number of clerical oversights in the list, although mainly it stood by its accuracy.

Geoff Negus, a spokesman for the Law Society, said the publication of the list was a stunt.

He said: "Some of these firms have never handled miners compensation claims in the first place and asked to join the approved list simply to keep open a commercial opportunity."

Of the 13 law firms based in the North-East and North Yorkshire who are on the list, only six are still actively trading, although one has changed address.

According to Law Society records, they are Elsbury-Priddin Solicitors, Newbottle Street, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside; Freeman Johnson, Old Elvet, Durham; Ingrams Solicitors, Great North Way, York; John O'Neill, Solicitors, Portland Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle; Tilly Bailey and Irvine Solicitors, York Road, Hartlepool; and Ware and Kay, Peasholme Green, York.

The Law Society said at least one firm named, Scanlan Westgarth Solicitors, of John Street, Sunderland, ceased trading as long as ten years ago.

Last year, Coal Health Minister Nigel Griffiths wrote to law firms asking if they had taken a slice of compensation cash unfairly and, if so, to repay the money voluntarily.

The Law Society was then asked to take urgent action against firms who failed to comply with the request and has investigated about 140 complaints as a result.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones, who raised the issue of double-charging in Parliament, said the Government was continuing to take a robust line.

Mr Jones claimed that, although some of his constituents had received money back from solicitors firms, none of it had been paid without a request having been made first.