More information on APIL campaigns

APIL TAKES ACTION ON PROPOSED REPEAL OF WORKPLACE REGULATION

Regulation 4(4) of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998 requires employers to retain insurance policies for 40 years.  Government plans to repeal it could deprive future workers diagnosed with long tail diseases the means to obtain full compensation.  APIL has taken a robust stance on this issue from the outset (see consultation response, August 2007) and since learning that the Government plans to repeal the regulation by negative resolution (i.e. with no opportunity for  parliamentary debate) we have been urgently briefing political allies from the unions, the legal profession and parliamentarians in an attempt to prevent the measure.  We understand that the introduction of the statutory instrument has been postponed pending further discussion at the highest levels but we cannot be complacent.  Members who wish to help in this campaign by speaking to their local MPs can use the briefing note by clicking here.  Those who have contact with MPs should also encourage them to sign Andrew Dismore’s Early Day Motion number 1829.

UPDATE:  as campaigning continues into July, we have developed an updated briefing note for MPs which focusses on the need for a central electronic database of ELCI policies.  To view this briefing note click here.

Draft Civil Law Reform Bill

The Government announced in its draft Queen’s Speech 2008 document that there will Draft Civil Law Reform Bill which will deal with the law relating to damages, limitation periods, and claims against insurers by people other than the insured person. This draft bill will be subject to consultation by the Ministry of Justice and also a possible inquiry by a select committee of the House of Commons. APIL will, of course, contribute in detail to both. 

Streamlining the claims process

APIL provided a detailed response to the Government’s consultation on streamlining the claims process and the small claims limit. Following the Government’s response, APIL welcomed the decision to maintain the small claims limit for personal injury claims at £1,000 and its obvious drive to encourage a quicker claims system.

While there is still a lot of work to be done, APIL will continue to work with the Government on its proposals’ to ensure victims’ interests are paramount.

Click here to view our press statement on announcement of the Government’s response.

Carbon Monoxide

APIL fully supports the need to raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide. The association teamed up with CORGI in 2007, to alert the public to the dangers and advise people about what to look out for. The gas watchdog’s latest figures showed there was a 40 per cent increase in deaths caused by carbon monoxide during the last six months of 2007, predominantly caused by faulty gas appliances.

APIL launched a press campaign to coincide with the launch of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, an event organised by campaigning group, CO-Awareness. Please find below a selection of informative leaflets about the dangers of the gas, kindly supplied by CO-Awareness. To find out more information you can also visit the group’s website at www.co-awareness.org

Carbon Monoxide checklist 

Carbon Monoxide awareness leaflet