FORMER Leigh miners and their families received government payouts totalling over £2.75million last year.

This takes the compensation sum in the constituency to over £6million to date.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham has welcomed speedier payouts across the borough and received the latest figures in a reply to a parliamentary question from Energy Minister Brian Wilson.

These showed £2,168,399 has been settled for chest disease and £588,329 for vibration white finger.

Mr Burnham said: "These new figures show a big improvement last year on the speed of pay-outs to people in the Leigh constituency. I hope it goes some way to giving families who have suffered the devastating effects of these health problems a decent quality of life in retirement.

"It should give people confidence that the money is starting to flow, but I realise the news will be of limited comfort to those still waiting.

"We owe it to them to sustain and improve this progress in 2003. We won't let up the pressure until every claim has been fully and finally settled."