THE Durham area National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will today launch an attack on the Government for failing to compensate miners for industrial diseases.

In an address at the annual Durham Miners' Gala, Durham area NUM president Dave Guy will highlight the delays in settling compensation claims for bronchitis, emphysema and other conditions.

He will say: "The settlement for compensation claims for bronchitis and emphysema continues to be woefully slow, despite many ministerial promises that the situation would improve.

"The process requires much more resources and a Government commitment to speed up the pace of settlements.

"The Department of Trade and Industry has not as yet accepted liability for our surface workers who were exposed to high levels of airborne dust in coal clearance and other surface plants.

"If there is no movement on these justifiable cases, the Durham miners will pursue these claims in court if necessary."

Mr Guy will outline the delays faced by those pursuing vibration white finger cases, and criticise the Government for introducing further medical tests that will not be available until the end of the year.

He will ask: "Is it too much to ask a Labour Government, in its second term of office, to provide the resources needed to ensure that miners who gave their life to the industry and sustained damage to their health, are justly and promptly compensated?"

His views will be echoed in an address by Durham area NUM general secretary Dave Hopper, who will also attack the reaction of the British and American Governments to the events of September 11.

He will state: "The knee-jerk reaction of the United States, wholeheartedly supported by the Government of the United Kingdom, has resulted in the bombing of Afghanistan and the killing and maiming of thousands of innocent civilians. Surely this cannot be the answer to the problem posed by terrorism.