Solicitors imposing extra fees on former miners seeking compensation for crippling lung problems and other illnesses were yesterday condemned as "parasites".

Now the Government has issued a stern warning for the legal men to play fair with the ex-colliery workers and their families.

A total of £60m has so far been paid to ex-miners and their widows in compensation for bronchitis and emphysema contracted during their working lives.

But Ronnie Campbell, MP for Blyth Valley in Northumberland, yesterday told the Commons that it was a disgrace that solicitors already getting fees for handling the cases were now "charging them lads again".

Mr Campbell, himself a former miner, branded the solicitors "parasites" and called on Energy Minister Helen Liddell to see if the law could be used to stop the lawyers.

Mrs Liddell told him that, under current arrangements, solicitors could get fees of between £500 and £1,750 with VAT and "small costs" on top of that.

But she specifically hit out at any law firms charging further contingency fees.

"They should not be doing so," said the Energy Minister, who advised claimants to get such fees annotated to provide clear evidence of the extra charges.