Sir,

The insurance industry’s own figures show that proven fraud is only present in 0.17 per cent of all motor-related insurance claims, and a fraction of that relates to personal injury claims.

Whiplash reforms proposed by the Government will, in reality, diminish the honest motorist’s right to fair redress when he is injured. Furthermore, the promise of lower premiums will not be kept. Insurance companies have already saved billions of pounds since the costs in injury claims were stripped back four years ago, yet they continue to set premiums higher and higher each year. Meanwhile the cost of injury claims fell by 13 per cent.

There are many factors which affect the price of premiums, yet injury claims continue to be the whipping boy. We have heard this week how repair costs are soaring out of control, with an 8 per cent increase in the cost of vehicle repair claims since 2013. The rate of insurance premium tax has also doubled in less than two years.

The problem clearly lies elsewhere.

Brett Dixon

President

APIL