Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell of Alloway (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 5 March 2012.

Insurance: Payment Protection Insurance

Question: My Lords, why is the Minister of Justice concerned with this? If there is concern, why is not the Lord Chancellor asked to deal with this? What is the difference between the one and the other now that we do not have the old-style Lord Chancellor or Minister of Justice?

Answer: I was halfway to agreeing with the noble Lord because one of the first things I asked was: why is the Ministry of Justice regulating claims management companies? I was told—I am looking at the noble Lord, Lord Borrie, although I do not think he was in post at the time—that the Office of Fair Trading was reluctant to take on this responsibility. The noble Lord nods his head. I still wonder whether there would not be a better home for this matter, but while we have it, noble Lords should know that our motto is ““We are from the Ministry of Justice; we are here to help””. We certainly intend to ensure that, while we have a responsibility to regulate this industry, we will regulate it with all due diligence.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 735 c1550
Session: 2010-12
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Compensation Consumers Credit Insurance Misrepresentation Claims management services
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk