Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Brazier Excerpts
Tuesday 2nd July 2013

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Helen Grant Portrait Mrs Grant
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The hon. Lady has got it absolutely wrong. We know that the Government, the insurance industry and claimant lawyers must all work to tackle fraud, because it is completely unacceptable. We fully expect the industry to pass on the considerable savings that it will make to the public in the form of reduced insurance premiums.

Julian Brazier Portrait Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con)
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Having suffered a severe whiplash injury after someone shunted my vehicle many years ago, I have great sympathy for genuine victims, but there is widespread evidence that gangs have moved into what they see as a profitable business, generating deliberately fraudulent claims, and that that is driving up premiums for ordinary motorists.

Helen Grant Portrait Mrs Grant
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I agree. Unfortunately, a compensation culture was allowed to develop under the last Government, and we are having to deal with it now. Our reforms will ensure that meritorious claims will always be possible, while also ensuring that unnecessary claims are avoided.