POLITICIANS today welcomed the money paid out to miners and their families.

MP Peter Hain, who was a tireless supporter of our said: “This is an incredible landmark in the journey to ensure that our miners and their families receive the compensation - and the recognition - they deserve for years of struggle and toil in difficult and dangerous conditions.

"The compensation scheme which was ushered in by the new Labour Government of the time was, and remains, absolutely unprecedented in scale. I have worked with all the MPs and many AMs in Gwent since that announcement to ensure that where delays occurred, they were dealt with and the system changed to ensure that compensation was paid up in timely fashion.

“The campaign of the Argus dating back many years was a campaign for justice and it was a campaign I was proud to support."

Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law said that while she was delighted more than £36 million had been paid out in compensation in Blaenau Gwent she was dismayed that many miners had died before benefiting from the scheme.

She said: "I would like to pay a huge tribute to Bleddyn Hancock who has fought tirelessly to win the right to compensation and then has done his utmost to ensure maximum take-up of compensation."

"Naturally I am thrilled that miners have received their just desserts, although of course it has cost them their health.

Islwyn MP Chris Evans said: "I think this has been an excellent scheme bringing justice to the miners."

Hedley McCarthy, Llanhilleth councillor and leader of the Labour group in Blaenau Gwent, said the magnitude of the payments underlined the health hazards suffered by the miners.

“While it seems a massive amount of money, it was what was due to people that give up their health for the benefit of the nation,” he said.