THE Government last night released figures for its coal health compensation scheme on a constituency basis.
So far, nationally, about £223m has been paid to former miners and their relatives suffering because of lung disease.
A total of £412m has been paid in claims for people suffering from vibration white finger (VWF). The latest figures show that in the North-East, the constituency having received the largest number of payouts for both lung disease and VWF is Easington, County Durham.
More than £5.5m has been paid to chronic bronchitis and emphysema sufferers in the area and about £21m for VWF sufferers.
Final figures for claims could though be ten times their current level, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
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