HOLMES HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING TO ADVISE MINERS ON COMPENSATION SCHEME

On Friday, Paul Holmes Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield is holding two public meetings with the Law Society's Legal Complaints Service to advise miners and their families who believe they may have paid money out of their compensation that should really be theirs.

Around 6,000 former miners in Chesterfield and Staveley have claimed compensation for Vibration White Finger or Lung Disease caused by coal dust. Nationally thousands of former miners who had money taken out of their claim settlement have been able to claim the money back.

Former miners are entitled to reclaim money if as a part of their claim they had to pay a share of their compensation to a solicitor or to a 'claims harvesting' company or if they were told they had to pay a membership fee to a union.

Commenting Paul Holmes MP said:

"It is outrageous the way some sick and vulnerable people have been robbed of part of their compensation for lung disease or Vibration White Finger. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report of 18th February condemned this. So did the Special Report by the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner in January 2008. The Law Society Legal Complaints Service will be writing to EVERY miner who made a compensation claim to see if the Law Society can help them get their money back where they have paid unnecessary fees to Solicitors and others. All 6,000 people potentially affected in Chesterfield and Staveley will be written to later this year, probably in the autumn. On the experience so far the Law Society expect around one in ten to make a successful claim to have money returned"

"It is very clear cut where solicitors are concerned -NO FEES/SHARE OF COMPENSATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID. Solicitors were paid in full, directly by the Government."

"With Union branches around the country it is slightly more complicated. Some, as with the NUM in Durham had 7.5% of compensation deducted and passed to the union. Others like the NUM in Chesterfield asked for a voluntary membership fee to be paid to the union. I have had some miners/miners families approach me to say that they had not realised that this was voluntary."

If you think this may apply to you then:

1.)Come along to the Speedwell Rooms, Staveley, 10am-12am or Chesterfield Market Hall (Assembly Rooms upstairs), 2pm-4pm. There will be a short introduction by Paul Holmes MP and the Law Society's Legal Complaints Service, followed by the chance to speak confidentially with advisers from the Law Society to see if you may have a case.

2.)If you are unable to attend the public meetings then contact Paul Holmes' office at 69 West Bars, Chesterfield, S40 1BA (email hawksworthd@parliament.uk) for details.

3.)You can also phone the Law Society Helpline on 0845 6086565