SICK ex-miners will continue to receive compensation of as little as £13.

The news comes because the Government has ruled out minimum payments in a shock announcement by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The Coalfields Communities Campaign condemned the announcement that the Government "will not fund a minimum payment".

The campaign, which represents 80 local authorities, said it "flies in the face of common sense" because the DTI has agreed a floor on compensation for fast-tracked claims.

However, only former miners with less severe injuries will have their cases fast-tracked - leaving the most crippled at risk of measly payouts.

One ex-miner from County Durham, who worked underground for 13 years, was offered only £13.36 because he had smoked for 24 years.

In evidence to the Commons trade and industry committee, the campaign said: "An ex-miner with lung damage should be entitled to a fair payment, no matter what other contributory factors are taken into account."

But industry minister Nigel Griffiths told the committee yesterday that a set minimum would open the floodgates for other litigants to demand higher payouts from the Government.

The only hope for ex-miners is that solicitors will reach agreement with the DTI over a suggested £500 minimum - topped up by solicitors themselves.

The campaign said solicitors were acting alone because of their "embarrassment". Their own standard fee is £2,300.

Even the £500 figure is only a third of the £1,500 suggested as a minimum by Labour MPs.

Last week, solicitors for crippled pitmen told the committee that miners believed the Government was "waiting for them to die" because of long delays in obtaining compensation.

But Capita, the scheme's adminstrators, said it now had 1,400 staff, compared to 150 four years ago. A total of 120,000 offers would be made this year, including fast-track settlements - up on 70,000 last year.