A MINERS' union leader today launched a scath-ing attack on energy minister Brian Wilson over pitmen's compensation payouts.

NACODS general secretary in South Wales, Bleddyn Hancock, criticised Mr Wilson for "not paying more attention to the issue" - and going to Scotland for two months after he was appointed.

His attack came after Mr Wilson said yesterday that pit widows would get top priority in compensation payments for their husband's chest diseases.

Mr Wilson told the Labour party conference in Brighton yesterday that preference will be shown to miners' widows, many whom are "elderly and frail". But Mr Hancock reacted sceptically to the announcement.

He said: "I agree with what Mr Wilson said but this is just a nothing announcement because the prioritisation of widows has already been agreed.

"He should be putting more resources into the compensation process so that payments can be speeded up.

"I'm delighted that the government are beginning to pull their finger out but it is a pity that Mr Wilson is not paying more attention to the issue - shortly after he was appointed he disappeared to the Western Isles of Scotland for two months."

Mr Hancock added: "We are getting to the stage where people are accepting fast track payments because they are sick of waiting to be compensated in full."

The Argus has campaigned for more than two years for payments to be speeded up to both former miners and their widows - taking a 25,000-name petition to Westminster calling for miners and their widows with valid claims to be paid £10,000 up front with the paperwork being sorted out later.

There have been a number of promises from various energy ministers along the way - but many miners have died without seeing their pay-outs and even their widows fear they will never see the cash.

Today Gwent pit widows gave a cautious welcome to the news. Elizabeth Davies, from Hengoed,welcomed the news. She said: "I think it's fantastic." But Alice Morgan, 74, of Glyncoed, Ebbw Vale, whose husband Henry died in 1996 didn't "know what to make of the news."

She fears she will never see the money and said: "It's been 12 years now (since he began the claim) and not everyone has been paid.

"The government can find money straight away for other things but not us." Mrs Morgan who has a heart condition, wants the saga to be sorted out soon for her children's sake. She said: "I am very ill at and I want this to be resolved for my children more than anything after what they have been through with me and my husband."

Mr Wilson told the conference: "Following discussions with the solicitors acting for the claimants we will now target additional resources into processing claims from widows." Other provisions include ex-miners no longer needing to produce detailed work records for every pit they have worked in.

Mr Wilson said agreement had been reached with solicitors representing miners which would allow "a large number of compensation offers to be made in the near future".

*PICTURED: Mrs Alice Morgan, from Ebbw Vale, who fears she will never see the compensation she is entitled to.