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Tory MP presses MoJ for PI answers

Published 04/04/2008

Henry Bellingham, the shadow minister of justice, has written to the government asking why it has missed its second self-imposed deadline of the end of March to release reforms on the personal injury claims process.

He has also submitted a question to the House of Commons, which was expected to be read on Wednesday, pressing the Ministry of Justice for a confirmed date of publication. The question has been put on the agenda, he said, and will be answered when possible.

The MoJ, which has downplayed the deadline by saying it was only an “aim” to publish something by the end of last month, has still refused to give an exact date for the release of the reforms, stating only that it will be as soon as possible.

The insurance industry was expecting the government to release the information by Monday after Bridget Prentice, Under-Secretary of State for Justice, indicated to the House of Commons in February that people could expect results by then.

Mr Bellingham, who posed the question to Ms Prentice, said he will continue to pressure the government to release its reforms promptly.

“I’m surprised the government is not getting a grip on things because there is broad support from all organisations for the reforms,” Mr Bellingham told Post.

Last week the Association of British Insurers held a parliamentary reception with members of Citizens’ Advice and the Confederation of Business Industry to keep the topic noteworthy.

This week ABI spokesman Malcolm Tarling said: “The government took the first step last year when it published its reform proposals. Now it needs to match its words with actions. The longer the delay, the more urgent the need for reform.”

This article has been reprinted with permission of the Claims Standards Council

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