An unprecedented response was received from members this week when chief executive Mike Benner called for help on the campaign for reform of the law on bereavement damages in England and Wales.

Thank you to those members who have already written to their MPs after reacting to Mike’s email, which was sent on Monday morning (24 April).

There is still a lack of awareness among MPs about the outdated and restrictive law on bereavement damages, and we know from experience that they are shocked when they do learn about how the law works. We still need the help of more APIL members to write to their MPs to spread that awareness.

APIL’s goal at this stage of the campaign is to secure a parliamentary debate on the subject.

To get involved with the campaign, please contact Sam Ellis, APIL’s public affairs manager at [email protected]. Sam will send you everything you need so it is quick and easy to draft a personal letter to your MP.

This increase in lobbying comes after the Government used a recent response to a parliamentary question to continue to resist reform of the law. This response was condemned in a press release from APIL as a “sickening display of indifference” towards grieving relatives.

*** Office opening hours***

The APIL office will be closed on Monday 1 May for the bank holiday.

Normal business will resume on Tuesday 2 May.

Voting in the APIL executive committee election will close at 5pm on Friday 5 May.

Voting only takes a few minutes and the successful candidate will play an essential role in the future of APIL. 

To find out more about the candidates and to cast your vote on the secure online voting site visit www.mi-vote.com/secure/apil.

There are five candidates standing for election for two vacant positions:

• Executive committee member (one vacancy)
• Executive committee member – legal practitioner member, academic member, paralegal member or honorary life member practising or working wholly or mainly in Wales (one vacancy)

In addition, the deadline to vote on the annual general meeting (AGM) special resolution is 9.30am on Tuesday 9 May.

The AGM will be held as a hybrid meeting at 4pm on Wednesday 10 May and voting will take place by poll ahead of the meeting, facilitated by Mi-Voice. In advance of the meeting members can obtain a copy of APIL’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2022 here.

The notice of the AGM, which provides details of how and when the meeting will be held, the business of the AGM, and how to find the relevant information to help members decide how to vote, is here.

If you have any questions relating to the AGM, send these ahead of the meeting on or before Thursday 4 May by email to [email protected]

To request a postal ballot, or if you require technical assistance voting online, contact [email protected] or call 023 8076 3987.  For any other information, contact Jenni Scothern on 0115 9435414 or by emailing [email protected].

APIL will respond to a new white paper on the use and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the UK.

The key aims of the proposals set out the paper, which has come from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, are to drive responsible innovation and maintain public trust in the technology.

Harm caused by AI and the current routes to redress are also considered.

APIL will reiterate its argument that it supports innovation as and when this reduces the risk of bodily harm to individuals. The association will argue that there should be a simple resolution for those who are injured by AI, similar to the approach in the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018, and that complex product liability claims are not the appropriate route to redress.

Members who wish to be involved in APIL’s response should contact APIL’s legal affairs assistant, Ana Ramos, at [email protected].

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