Justice Select Committee Report – Whiplash Reform and the OICP

The Justice Select Committee has today published its report into the impact of the whiplash reforms, and the performance of the OICP.

The Committee has expressed concern in relation to the following areas:

1. The low number of individuals using the Portal.
2. Reported difficulties experienced by claimant representatives in integrating with the OIC.
3. The high number of unresolved claims.
4. The time taken to resolve claims, which is anticipated to increase.

The Committee has called on the MOJ to investigate and set out what steps are being taken to address these concerns, and to publish their response by the 20^th November 2023.  The Committee will return to these issues next year, to include the position on mixed injuries after the appeals in Rabot and Briggs have been decided.

Carpenters Group has been at the forefront of highlighting issues with the technology, the detriment caused to consumers, and the delay and lack of visibility suffered by insurers.  We have invested significant time and expense in integrating with the OICP, to provide the best available service.  It is pleasing that we now have independent recognition of these industry wide problems.  We can only hope that the MOJ will take note, and now focus on reducing the delays that consumers and insurers continue to face.

The committee also acknowledged the difficulty in demonstrating premium savings generated by the reforms, given the other pressures on claims costs, and urges full transparency to assist in demonstrating that injury savings have been passed to consumers.

We will continue to keep you updated and share any further detail provided during the MOJ’s review.

Please see the link for more information - https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmjust/1140/summary.html#