Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to reform the whiplash claims process.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
In February this year, the Government announced further reforms to bear down on the number and cost of whiplash claims. These reforms will be introduced in due course through the Civil Liability Bill which was announced in the Queen’s Speech, and through secondary legislation.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish the results of the Government's review of the latest draft clauses on the discount rate reforms.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Justice Select Committee is conducting a pre-legislative scrutiny inquiry into the draft legislation published by the Ministry of Justice on 7 September (Cm 9500).
The Government will respond to the Committee’s conclusions and other comments received on the draft legislation within two months of the publication of the Committee’s report.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to review the personal injury discount rate.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The personal injury discount rate set by the Lord Chancellor for England and Wales under section 1 of the Damages Act 1996 was reduced from 2.5% to minus 0.75% on 20 March following a review. The Lord Chancellor is required by law to make sure the rate is not inappropriate.
On 7 September, the Ministry of Justice published and invited comments on draft legislation that would, if enacted, change the way in which the discount rate is set and require a review of the rate to be started within 90 days of the legislation coming into force and completed within 180 days of the start of the review. The Justice Select Committee is conducting a pre-legislative scrutiny inquiry into the draft legislation.
Subject to the response to the draft legislation, the Government intends to legislate promptly to make sure that the way the rate is set is put on the best possible footing at the earliest practicable date. The first review of the rate will then be carried out in accordance with the terms of the legislation.