The government announced on 21 April 2020 that all work related to the implementation of the whiplash reforms has been paused and the implementation timetable has been moved to April 2021 because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Generally, the online whiplash claims service is being designed to be simple and easy to operate for all users. Once we resume work on the whiplash reform programme, the government will continue its work with the Civil Procedure Rule Committee on new and revised Rules, Pre-action Protocol and Practice Direction to underpin the reforms and the system. This will include consideration of incentives and controls for all users of the online claims service where it is appropriate to do so.

Currently, motor insurers accept liability for damages in the majority of whiplash claims and we do not expect insurer behaviour to change after implementation. However, claimants will have the option to go to court to establish liability where this is necessary.

On 8 December 2015, at a meeting with Ministers, representatives of leading insurers committed to pass on savings to consumers through lower premiums following the implementation of Government reforms. The Government will be monitoring the industry’s reaction to these reforms closely.

The meeting on 8 December 2015 was the first Ministerial meeting with insurers to discuss the reforms announced in the Autumn Statement on 25 November. Lord Faulks subsequently met representatives from the claimant lawyer sector at the end of January 2016. Officials had previously met with both insurers and claimant lawyer representatives to discuss the reforms.

On 8 December, following the Chancellor’s announcement of further whiplash reforms in his Autumn Statement on 25 November, Lord Faulks and two ministerial colleagues, Oliver Letwin and Harriett Baldwin, met a representative group of senior figures from the insurance industry, including the Association of British Insurers. The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss passing savings arising from the reforms to motorists by way of reduced premiums.

We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders including other government departments, solicitors and insurers in taking forward the new reform package. The Government will consult on the detail of these measures in due course.

The Government continues to work with a wide range of stakeholders in taking forward the whiplash reform package announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement in November 2015. Officials met with representative bodies for claimant solicitors in December 2015 and a ministerial meeting is planned for the end of January 2016. They will have a further opportunity to comment when we consult on the detail of the reforms in due course.

The Government received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders including other Government Departments, solicitors and insurers in taking forward the new reform package. The Government will consult on the detail of these measures in due course. The consultation will be accompanied by an impact assessment.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not centrally record the total number of people prosecuted for driving whilst disqualified or driving whilst uninsured. To obtain details of the number of defendants prosecuted for these offences, would require a manual review of individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Driving motor vehicles while uninsured are specified proceedings. These are offences that are prosecuted by the police rather than the CPS in order to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and ensure swifter justice. The CPS will only prosecute a specified offence in cases where a not guilty plea has been entered or when the defendant is charged with other associated offences such as driving with excess alcohol.

The Ministry of Justice discussed the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill with officials from the Health and Safety Executive and senior members of the judiciary prior to its introduction. There have been no discussions with the insurance industry regarding the Bill. There is nothing in the Bill which prevents an employee bringing a negligence claim, or which leaves workers without appropriate remedies when they are injured by the negligent actions of irresponsible employers. We do not therefore expect it to lead to workers taking out personal insurance cover.

The Ministry of Justice discussed the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill with officials from the Health and Safety Executive and senior members of the judiciary prior to its introduction. There have been no discussions with the insurance industry regarding the Bill. There is nothing in the Bill which prevents an employee bringing a negligence claim, or which leaves workers without appropriate remedies when they are injured by the negligent actions of irresponsible employers. We do not therefore expect it to lead to workers taking out personal insurance cover.

I have spoken to many business groups and employers who tell me about how the compensation culture is tying their business in knots. Employers often do the right thing, put sensible safety procedures in place, and then someone does something daft and the employer still finds himself facing a negligence claim. The Bill should reassure employers and others that the courts will always consider the context of their actions before making a decision on liability. It should also deter claimants from bringing unfounded claims in the first place thereby helping to reduce insurance premiums. We have published an impact assessment at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/social-action-responsibility-and-heroism-bill#impact-assessment

The hon. Gentleman is clearly out of date. If he did his research properly, he would be aware that since January this year 800 CMCs have closed. This is an issue where we are trying to do good and where all stakeholders are working together for the greater good of the public. It is regrettable that he is resorting to type and cannot recognise that he should be working to do good rather than being his usual destructive self.

The Government is committed to reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims to help bring down the cost of motor insurance premiums for consumers.

On 16 May 2013, Official Report, columns 48-49WS, my predecessor announced in a written ministerial statement that the Government would defer its response to the 'Reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims' consultation until after the Transport Committee had published its own report and recommendations in this area. The Committee's report was published on 31 July. We are considering its recommendations alongside the responses received to the consultation. The Government will publish its response later this year.

The Department's Claims Management Regulation Unit has not made an estimate of such cost to businesses. The CMR Unit is however well aware of this issue and a specialist PPI compliance team is targeting poor practices used by those claims management companies that submit poorly prepared or spurious PPI claims.

The information is as follows:

PQs 139117-139120

Neither the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), nor I had any specific meetings with either the insurance industry or claimant representatives immediately prior to the publication of this Department's proposals for the reduction of fixed recoverable fees in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury scheme.

At present, there are no plans for us to meet, or have discussions with, either insurance or claimant representatives about these proposals before final rates are set. The Department has, however, received over 750 responses to the recent consultation on the proposals. These are currently being analysed and the views of both insurance and claimant respondents will be fully considered before final decisions are made.

PQ 139121

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) on 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 370W.

The information is as follows:

PQs 139117-139120

Neither the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), nor I had any specific meetings with either the insurance industry or claimant representatives immediately prior to the publication of this Department's proposals for the reduction of fixed recoverable fees in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury scheme.

At present, there are no plans for us to meet, or have discussions with, either insurance or claimant representatives about these proposals before final rates are set. The Department has, however, received over 750 responses to the recent consultation on the proposals. These are currently being analysed and the views of both insurance and claimant respondents will be fully considered before final decisions are made.

PQ 139121

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) on 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 370W.

The information is as follows:

PQs 139117-139120

Neither the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), nor I had any specific meetings with either the insurance industry or claimant representatives immediately prior to the publication of this Department's proposals for the reduction of fixed recoverable fees in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury scheme.

At present, there are no plans for us to meet, or have discussions with, either insurance or claimant representatives about these proposals before final rates are set. The Department has, however, received over 750 responses to the recent consultation on the proposals. These are currently being analysed and the views of both insurance and claimant respondents will be fully considered before final decisions are made.

PQ 139121

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) on 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 370W.

The information is as follows:

PQs 139117-139120

Neither the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), nor I had any specific meetings with either the insurance industry or claimant representatives immediately prior to the publication of this Department's proposals for the reduction of fixed recoverable fees in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury scheme.

At present, there are no plans for us to meet, or have discussions with, either insurance or claimant representatives about these proposals before final rates are set. The Department has, however, received over 750 responses to the recent consultation on the proposals. These are currently being analysed and the views of both insurance and claimant respondents will be fully considered before final decisions are made.

PQ 139121

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) on 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 370W.

The information is as follows:

PQs 139117-139120

Neither the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), nor I had any specific meetings with either the insurance industry or claimant representatives immediately prior to the publication of this Department's proposals for the reduction of fixed recoverable fees in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury scheme.

At present, there are no plans for us to meet, or have discussions with, either insurance or claimant representatives about these proposals before final rates are set. The Department has, however, received over 750 responses to the recent consultation on the proposals. These are currently being analysed and the views of both insurance and claimant respondents will be fully considered before final decisions are made.

PQ 139121

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) on 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 370W.

The Employers' Liability Tracing Office is a public company limited by guarantee. They advise in their 12 month report for 2011-12 that as of April 2012, there are 149 members, representing 99% of the employers' liability insurance market.