WALES Office Minister Don Touhig today spelled out the reasons for the progress achieved in the compensation schemes for miners whose health was damaged from working underground.

The Argus has campaigned for more than three years for compensation payouts to miners who suffer chest diseases as a result of their years working underground to be speeded up.

Energy Minister Brian Wilson promised Argus readers in January that 15,000 former Welsh miners would receive full compensation by the end of year.

Mr Touhig, speaking in advance of chairing the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Welsh sub-group today, said the compensation payouts were on target.

He said: "In September we broke the £1bn mark in total compensation paid out across the UK, including some £200m for Welsh claimants.

"The figures to mid-October show that about £215m has now been paid out to Welsh claimants - £142.8m on respiratory disease and £72.8m on vibration white finger."

Trade unions, lawyers, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Government's claim handlers IRISC, and Healthcall, who carry out the tests, sit on the monitoring group.

Mr Touhig added: "We are acutely aware of the injustices that must be righted.

"The new secretary of state for Wales, Peter Hain, was energy minister at the DTI and oversaw the compensation scheme across the UK."