HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc20-1W
Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress of the work being carried out by his Department on employers' liability compulsory insurance. [127798]

Mr. Browne

The Department published the First Stage Report of its review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) on 3 June 2003. The report identified a number of significant areas for further action. These include working with interested parties to help develop the basis for more risk-related premiums; working with stakeholders to maximise the benefits for EL of current initiatives within the legal system; engaging with business, industry and other stakeholders to further evaluate the evidence for separating long-term occupational disease risks from accident risks; making rehabilitation play a more central role in the UK workers' compensation system; and reforming the arrangements for enforcement of EL.

We will report in autumn on the progress that has been made and any further steps we intend to take.