Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Edward Leigh Excerpts
Tuesday 15th May 2012

(12 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jonathan Djanogly Portrait Mr Djanogly
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It is true to say that the issue was heavily debated during the passage of the Bill. I am pleased to note that all parties in the House reached an agreed way forward. The Government are therefore committed to action on mesothelioma, and various proposals about the claims process are being considered. I am sure the House will understand that it would be inappropriate to draw up the terms of reference now for a review that will not take place for some time, but we will share details of the review process in due course.

Edward Leigh Portrait Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)
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One of the worst mistakes that our last Government made was bringing in no win, no fee. It has Americanised our legal aid system and brought in a risk-averse culture and a load of ambulance chasers, so I welcome what the Government are doing. Will the Minister confirm that he will not let it rest there, that no win, no fee is now under a real review and that we will not tolerate the behaviour that we have seen in recent years?

Jonathan Djanogly Portrait Mr Djanogly
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We are retaining no win, no fee for conditional fee agreements, but we are getting rid of the reforms that the Labour Government put in place whereby success fees and after-the-event insurance were recoverable. We will effectively return to the position of the last Conservative Government, which I hope and expect will put balance back into the claims equation.