April 16, 2009
MORE GOVERNMENT HELP FOR MINERS
MORE help is on the way for ex-miners after the government announced those suffering from a debilitating knee condition will be able to claim benefits.
Work and pensions secretary James Purnell has confirmed osteoarthritis of the knee, known as miner’s knee, will be added to the list of ‘prescribed diseases’.
It means thousands of sufferers will be eligible for industrial injuries disablement benefit.
John Healey has been among MPs campaigning for the government to recognise the contribution these men made.
He said: “This is great news for those miners who, through no fault of their own, have had to live with this very painful injury every day. This disease has made life difficult for them and many were forced to end their working life earlier than planned.
“Having just marked the 25th anniversary of the start of the miners’ strike, the government is showing its continued support for mining communities like ours.”
Mr Purnell said: “John Healey has been a strong voice for former miners in Parliament. It is thanks to his campaigning that miners, after years of hard work underground, will be getting this extra help.”
More than 20,000 ex-miners and their families in Rotherham have already received over £120m in compensation for respiratory disease and vibration white finger. In Barnsley over £250m has gone to more than 40,000 claimants.
But Mr Healey has been pressing the government to extend the help following contact from miner’s knee sufferers.
The condition is brought on by prolonged kneeling, crawling and carrying heavy weights. It occurs when the cartilage is damaged causing pain, swelling and stiffness.
People are likely to be able to start claiming from the end of June this year.