IT has been four years and four Energy Ministers since the High Court found that British Coal had failed to take adequate precautions to prevent miners inhaling dust.

Unequivocally, the judges ruled that the nationalised industry had failed in its duty to adequately protect its employees. Those whose health had suffered deserved compensation. The widows and families of those who had died as a direct result of British Coal's neglect deserved compensation.

It is a travesty that, after such a damning verdict by the High Court, thousands of former miners, many of them gravely ill, are still waiting for justice.

It is a bigger travesty that so many have died as a direct result of industrial diseases while their claims have been bogged down by bureaucracy, leaving their widows and children to fight the just cause.

After four years and four Energy Ministers, precious little progress appears to have been made.

The latest minister to take on responsibility for the process of compensation yesterday spoke of a breakthrough.

We have been told of breakthroughs before, by Brian Wilson's three predecessors.

Former miners can be forgiven for believing this is just another promise of a breakthrough that will come to nothing.

We do not doubt Mr Wilson's sincerity and his determination to bring this matter to a satisfactory and swift conclusion.

Just like we did not doubt the sincerity and determination of his predecessors.

But it will take more than sentiment to speed up the juggernaut of red tape and administration which has brought the processing of claims to a virtual standstill.

It will take relentless intervention and pressure at ministerial level.

We will hold Mr Wilson to account. We will be watching closely to see whether his promise to accelerate offers of compensation over the next few weeks will be fulfilled; to see whether his promise to settle 50,000 claims next year will be fulfilled.

The time for excuses has run out. The time has come to deliver justice for the miners.