MINER'S KNEE

That this House welcomes the Government's acceptance of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council recommendations that osteoarthritis of the knee be declared an industrial disease for coal miners and payments under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme be made available shortly for those disabled by the condition; notes that certain firms of solicitors are seeking to make yet more money out of disabled miners by offering to assist them complete their application forms at a cost of £300 when applications to the Department of Work and Pensions are cost-free; and believes that this activity combined with the likelihood that litigation will grind on for years at an enormous cost makes an overwhelming case for the introduction of a no-fault compensation scheme.