MINERS' champion Pat Daglish has welcomed the "excellent progress" being made towards ending the suffering of thousands of compensation claimants.
Ms Daglish, from Stanley, County Durham, learnt this week that she will receive a second interim payment of £2,000 as a result of her father Thomas's death, with a view to settling the case within weeks.
He died from lung disease after years of breathing coal dust while working down the pits.
Ms Daglish says that while the fight for men such as her late father will continue, promises made by Government Energy Minister Peter Hain are being kept.
Mr Hain was in the region in March and promised a £68m compensation package for miners and their widows.
Said Ms Daglish: "I am sure he will continue the excellent progress being made in ensuring that full and final payments are made to claimants as quickly as possible."
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