THE widows of former miners are to be offered flat rate payments of £1,200 as part of new proposals to speed up respiratory compensation payments.

The offer comes from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) submitted to the High Court in advance of a hearing next week.

The DTI believes the flat rate payment of £1,200 to widows and £1,000 to next of kin, where the miner died at least 20 years ago and medical records are unlikely to be available, will be attractive to the estimated 78,000 claimants in this category.

In the case of miners who have died more recently - an estimated 112,000 cases - families will automatically receive a full medical assessment by a chest specialist.

But before this goes ahead, this group of families can also choose to opt for the flat rate payment.

If they accept, they will not be able to hold out for a full medical assessment by a chest specialist.

It will be for the Judge, Sir Michael Turner, to decide whether to adopt the DTI's proposals.

Last month, Sir Michael ruled on setting up a fast-track payments scheme for surviving former miners with very low levels of lung disease.

The amounts on offer to exminers are also expected to be finalised at next week's hearing.

Roger Maddocks, a Newcastle lawyer who is a member of the claimants' solicitors group steering committee, reacted cautiously to the announcement.

"We obviously need to study the details but at first sight the level of flat rate payment is disappointing, particularly for those cases where there will be evidence from the death certificate that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease contributed to or was the cause of death."

There are 160,000 claims from miners and 255,00 from widows and families still awaiting settlement.