For immediate release
30th May 2007

MP Healey backs legal service to aid former miners

Local MP John Healey is backing a free legal service to help former miners and relatives of former miners.

The Legal Complaints Service deals with complaints against solicitors, and may be able to help former miners and relatives of former miners to recoup money they may have had deducted from vibration white finger or chronic obstructive airways disease claims.
To date the service has recovered more than £560,000 on behalf of former miners, mainly from solicitors who have made an inappropriate deduction of money when handling claims.

John Healey MP said:

"Deductions may have been made by the solicitor for themselves or another organisation, and claimants may now be able to recover that money through the Legal Complaints Service."

"The service is focusing on former coalfield areas like the Dearne, where formers miners and relatives of former miners still live."

For more information please contact the MP's constituency office in Wath on (01709) 875943, or the Legal Complaints Service direct on 0845 608 6565.

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For further information please contact:
Joanne Wilson, Research Officer to John Healey MP on Tel - 01709 512463