Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to reduce burdens of liability and regulation that fall upon individuals undertaking voluntary work. [HL859]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)The burdens of liability and regulation that fall upon individuals undertaking voluntary work have been the subject of close interest by this Government for some time. Formal representations on these issues have rightly been directed to the Home Office, which is responsible for the voluntary and community sector, to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which is leading a government review of the employers' liability insurance system, and the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), which is leading a government review of regulatory issues.
The Active Community Unit in the Home Office set up the Insurance Cover Working Group (ICWG) in July 2002, to look into insurance difficulties for the voluntary and community sector and advise on practical solutions. The ICWG engaged consultants Alison Millward Associates to undertake a study into the current position regarding the provision of insurance for the voluntary and community sector, including employers' liability, public liability and professional liability, and to make practical recommendations that will bring relief to the problems. The consultants' report was delivered to the ICWG in June 2003.
The DWP-led review of employers' liability aimed to assess the case for reforming employers' liability compulsory insurance (ELCI) and to identify the objectives and options for such reform. The second stage of its report was published at the end of 2003. The Better Regulation Task Force, acting for the DCA, aims to publish its findings later this year.
129WAAction is already being taken following the publication of the DWP review and following careful consideration and wide consultation, a cross-departmental response to the consultants' proposed action plan is being drafted by the ICWG. This will be published at the beginning of March. All the accepted practical recommendations of these reports will be implemented in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, the insurance industry, local authorities and government departments.