MINERS and their families offered so-called "fast track" payments will still be able to claim their cash, despite the end of a Government deadline yesterday.
The fast track scheme, introduced by former Energy Minister Helen Liddell last year, was aimed at settling quickly the cases of miners who had contracted lung diseases through breathing in coal dust.
Claimants who had been made fast track offers had been given until yesterday to indicate whether they wanted to accept or reject the cash.
Last night, the Department of Trade and Industry said it would accept fast track claims after the deadline.
Almost £45m of the £74m offered remains untouched.
Anyone who rejects a fast track offer can receive an interim payment of 70 per cent of the amount offered if they choose to wait for a full medical
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