§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research he has commissioned or undertaken into the effect of his proposals for the(a) wider introduction of conditional fee arrangements and (b) allocation of legal aid in personal injury cases from the consumer's perspective. [42586]
§ Mr. HoonOrganisations representing consumers have been consulted during the development of these proposals and have responded to the consultation paper. All the responses are being analysed and we intend to publish our response to the consultation in due course.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what evaluation he has made of the pre-action protocols piloted by nine firms of solicitors and six insurers since October 1997; and if he will publish his conclusions, indicating the evidence underlying them. [42585]
§ Mr. HoonThe pilot of the pre-action protocol for personal injury cases will continue until the end of August. The working group responsible for drafting the protocol, whose membership includes insurers and solicitors, and which is running the pilot, has agreed that officials of the Lord Chancellor's Department should evaluate the data produced by the pilot at its conclusion. Any decision on the publication of the results would be a matter for the working group.
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