The Justice Committee has also requested an explanation as to why the increases in the small claims limit from £1,000 is based on inflation from 1991, not 1999, as previously proposed by Lord Justice Jackson in his Civil Justice Review. And the Committee asks that the government let them see the draft of a promised amendment to the bill aimed at making sure insurers stick by their promise to reduce insurance premiums.

The letter comes after the Ministry of Justice announced it will delay the implementation of the Civil Liability Bill until April of 2020.

Tom Jones, Head of Policy at Thompsons Solicitors, said:

“We welcome the letter from Bob Neill the Chair of the Justice Committee to the Secretary of State for Justice and the clarifications he seeks.  Five minutes looking at the White Book and the suggestion that the date from which any increase should be measured is anything other than 1999 is blown out of the water, yet the government persists in clinging to 1991.

“Like the Committee we look forward to seeing the detail of the amendment to the Bill providing a means for reporting on and holding insurance companies to account for their commitment to reduce premiums. This is particularly important given the insurers track record – they promised to reduce premiums in 2012 when David Cameron agreed to their demands on the level of fixed costs associated with the Jackson reforms and yet, other than a brief dip, motor premiums have continued to rise.”

Thompsons Solicitors has long been campaigning against the proposed rise of the small claims limit and our Feeding Fat Cats campaign asks that those affected by the proposals write to their local MP to oppose the Civil Liability Bill.

Find out more about how you can help our fight against these proposals here.