Westminster

Personal injury discount rate

On Tuesday 18 July the House of Lords debated a "motion to regret" the Damages (Personal Injury) Order 2017, which altered the personal injury discount rate. A briefing was sent by APIL to peers ahead of the debate, and that briefing can be read here. The "motion to regret" was withdrawn at the end of the debate.

Government proposals to reform low value personal injury claims

In November 2016, the Ministry of Justice launched a consultation with proposals to remove or restrict the right to general damages for minor soft tissue claims, and to transfer personal injury claims with a value of £5,000 for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (‘general’ damages) to the small claims court.

The Government responded to the consultation, and confirmed that the small claims court limit would increase to £5,000 for road traffic accident claims, and to £2,000 for all other personal injury claims.

Proposals to introduce a tariff of compensation for general damages for minor soft tissue claims were also included in the Prisons and Courts Bill. APIL's briefing on that Bill can be read here.

Following the announcement of the general election, the Prisons and Courts Bill has been dropped by the Government as there would not have been enough time for the Bill to be passed into law. Before the Bill was dropped it was being examined by MPs at committee stage, and APIL vice president Brett Dixon gave evidence to the committee at the end of March. That evidence session can be viewed here.

APIL will often provide both written and oral evidence to parliamentary select committees. In this section you can read about APIL's work with those select committees.

The House of Lords Science and Technology has launched an inquiry into future uses of autonomous vehicles in the UK. APIL's written evidence to the committee can be read here.

The House of Commons Justice Select Committee held a one-off oral evidence session on the Government's consultation on reforming low value personal injury claims, and the committee head from APIL president Neil Sugarman. A recording of the session can be watched here. APIL submitted written evidence to the committee ahead of the session, and that evidence can be read here.