SMALL CLAIMS LIMIT FOR PERSONAL INJURY AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

That this House expresses concern at the planned increase in the small claims limit for personal injury; regrets the small claims limit increase is not on the face of the Civil Liability Bill and unable to be debated; further regrets the proposal to increase the small claims limit by 100 per cent from £1,000 to £2,000 in all personal injury claims and from £1,000 to £5,000 in all road traffic injury cases; notes that CPI inflation from the last change in the small claims limit in 1999 would only see an increase to less than £1,500; regrets the decision to ignore Lord Justice Jackson's recommendation against any increase above £1,500; notes the Justice Select Committee's recommendation that the small claims limit for personal injury should only be increased to reflect inflation from 1999; believes that an increase in the small claims limit will have severe consequences on access to justice; and calls on the Government to withdraw its current plans for any increase in the small claims limit.