HC Deb 17 February 1998 vol 306 c592W
35. Mr. Yeo

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with the insurance industry about the introduction of contingency fee arrangements. [28103]

Mr. Hoon

I have set out these details in previous answers to questions from the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on the 15 of December 1997,Official Report, columns 43–44, and 30 of January 1998,Official Report, column 393. Since then, the working group looking at conditional fees insurance has met on the 6 of February. At this, the second meeting, my officials, representatives of the Association of British Insurers, and the insurance industry, were joined by representatives of the British Banking Association, clearing, and other banks.

41. Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he is making with the introduction of his legal aid reforms. [28109]

Mr. Hoon

A consultation paper will be published in the next few weeks setting out the Government's proposals for the extension of the conditional fee scheme and changes to the scope of civil legal aid. Decisions will not be made about the reforms to be introduced until the responses to the consultation paper have been considered.

44. Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he is making with the introduction of his legal aid reforms. [28112]

Mr. Hoon

A consultation paper will be published in the next few weeks setting out the Government's proposals for the extension of the conditional fee scheme and changes to the scope of civil legal aid. Decisions will not be made about the reforms to be introduced until the responses to the consultation paper have been considered.