House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Andrew Slaughter says "there are other, better and fairer ways to tackle the issue of whiplash claims than placing a tariff on them."

"There is no sense to the government's rationale. They simply want to penalise and minimize the damages paid to litigants," he says.

Conservative MP Kwasi Kwarteng says "whiplash is a peculiarly British phenomenon".

"This is a serious issue which has come up again and again over the last 15 years and it is a legitimate question to ask what is going wrong," he says.

Mr Kwarteng says insurance companies may be "paying out early" to encourage more fraudulent claims, but dismisses remarks from Labour backbenchers that "no more fraudulent whiplash claims are being made today than 15 years ago."

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour MP Dr Paul Williams says that patients "might be alarmed" about the prospects of a no-deal Brexit and asks whether they should be stockpiling their own drugs.

Martin Sawer of HDA says no; the organisations are "here on behalf of patients", aiming to ensure politicians understand the concerns of the industry on the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

"We can't plan against uncertainty, and we are very concerned as businesses," he says.

Mike Thompson of ABPI says the organisations are not suggesting anyone needs to stockpile "outside of the supply chain yet", but come January that situation may be different.

Image source, HoC

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow justice minister Gloria De Piero now begins the debate on amendment two of the Civil Liability Bill in its report stage.

This amendment would remove the creation of tariffs for whiplash injuries and retain the existing system where judges decide compensation levels with reference to Judicial College Guidelines.

Gloria De Piero says "people who are already suffering, who have experienced bad injuries, would be worse off under the new tariffs."

Conservative MP Alex Chalk says there needs to be a distinction between "genuine damages" such as bodily injuries, and "other related damages" such as the need to take taxis instead of driving due to an injury.

He says the bill puts a tariff on other related damages but not genuine damages for injuries, and that this is "perfectly fair".

Conservative MP Simon Clarke says the bill provides the ability for tariffs to be deviated from "in exceptional circumstances", so there is "no need for this amendment".

House of Lords
Parliament

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The Lords are now responding to yesterday's statement on the death of Jamal Khashoggi, which is being repeated by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.

Labour spokesman Lord Collins of Highbury says "we must show Saudi Arabia that there are consequences for their actions...that is the way to end their impunity and persuade them to change their ways."

Lib Dem Lord Wallace of Saltaire questions the delay in the government's decision not to attend a trade conference in Saudi Arabia, suggesting the decision was made only after a number of other government companies had withdrawn.

He says his party had concerns when in coalition government with the Conservatives that some were "too close, personally and politically" with the government and royal family of Saudi Arabia.

"We need as a government to maintain a balance in Middle East politics."

• Khashoggi murder planned days ahead, says Turkey's Erdogan
• Khashoggi death: How Saudi Arabia altered its account
• Jamal Khashoggi: All you need to know about Saudi journalist's death

Select Committee
Parliament

Mike Thompson says the UK doesn't have enough cold chain (temperature-controlled) warehouses to stockpile the medicine supplies needed for a no deal Brexit.

Mr Thompson says politicians need to do "everything they can" to ensure there is an effective supply of medicines after the UK leaves the European Union.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs divided on new clause 2 in the Civil Liability Bill.

The Labour amendment would limit increases in the small claims track limit for those suffering whiplash injuries to inflationary rises only for children or those lacking the capacity to make decisions themselves.

Ayes: 243

Noes: 288

Majority: 45

The amendment is therefore not part of the bill.

House of Lords
Parliament

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In response to a question regarding potential flu vaccine shortage from Conservative Lord Naseby, health minister Lord O'Shaughnessy says "there is no overall shortage".

He says the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended the introduction of a new vaccine, which has meant the manufacturer has had to "stagger deliveries".

He says the change in vaccine is because of issues with the previous one used, and that there is adequate supply of the new one.

"Everybody that wants to be vaccinated should be able to do so ahead of December."

Labour peer Lord Clark of Windermere says the delay increases the risk of older people contracting flu, and asks for explanation why the vaccine won't be available until early December.

Lord O'Shaughnessy says it was the result of advice from the joint committee.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have divided over new clause 1 in the Civil Liability Bill.

The amendment, put forward by Labour shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, relates to tariffs for whiplash injuries.

It would limit increases in the whiplash small claims limit to inflation (CPI), and allow the limit to increase only when inflation had increased the existing rate by £500 since it was last set.

Ayes: 240

Noes: 287

Majority: 47

The amendment is voted down.

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative peer Lord Balfe asks about potential legislative plans to prevent anonymous social media accounts and anonymous online forum posts.

Government spokesman Lord Ashton of Hyde says online anonymity is an important part of an open internet, but social media companies should have processes in place to tackle anonymous abuse.

He says a white paper will be published "in the winter" detailing legislative and non-legislative measures to tackle online abuse, setting "clear responsibilities for tech companies".

Select Committee
Parliament

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Labour MP Ben Bradshaw asks about the stockpiling of medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Mike Thompson from the the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry says pharmaceutical companies have spent "hundreds of millions of pounds" relocating stock in preparation for a no-deal.

Mr Thompson says this is not necessarily enough and there needs to be "fast-track routes" to get medicines to the UK, which could involve airlifting and importing medicines from the US.

House of Lords
Parliament

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A question is now asked on behalf of the Bishop of St Albans, regarding food security after Brexit.

In response, DEFRA minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble says the UK has "a high degree of food security, built on access to diverse sources of supply".

Labour's Baroness Jones says a great deal of the UK's food comes from the EU and asks for confirmation that this will mean border forces will be "obliged to conduct more food checks", regardless of whether a Brexit deal is reached.

"There will not be food shortages because of Brexit," Lord Gardiner of Kimble insists, "we have a very experienced food industry in the this country...we produce a very large amount of food already and that will come from all sources around the world."

Green party peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb says "the idea that we're going to have any sort of American produce that none of us wants to eat is frankly horrifying for most of us."

Select Committee
Parliament

Martin Sawer, from Healthcare Distributors Association, tells the committee that the end of frictionless trade would lead to "patients not getting medicines" and "huge prices rises in the NHS".

The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK) represents those businesses who supply medicines, medical devices and healthcare services for patients, pharmacies, hospitals, dispensing doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.

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Select Committee
Parliament

Saffron Cordery of NHS Providers tells the committee that "there hasn't been sufficient time for national level planning" for a no-deal Brexit.

"Timing and timescales are critical," she says.

Planning for a no-deal is coinciding with other issues facing the NHS, such as winter pressures and a need to meet efficiency savings and she says "timing is critical".

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House of Lords
Parliament

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Following the introduction of the Bishop of Bristol, Labour's Baroness Lister of Burtersett begins the day with a question about the impact on children of the British citizenship application fee.

Applicants are currently charged £1,012 to register a child's entitlement to citizenship.

Home Office minister Baroness Manzoor says the duty to a child's best interest is considered in the setting of fees. She says representations will be heard on changing the fee in the upcoming Fees Review.

Baroness Lister says no child rights impact assessment has been published, so asks for an explanation for the fee. She suggests it restricts children's access to their statutory rights, and risks creating a new generation of Windrush scandal-like victims.

Lib Dem Baroness Hamwee questions whether the rights of a child are coming second the the Home Office's pursuit of profit.

Baroness Manzoor says the government has to take a whole system approach. When this is called "gobbledygook" by Labour's Lord Dubs, she says the impact of fee changes would have to be made up elsewhere.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Committee chair Dr Sarah Wollaston welcomes the witnesses and asks Professor Tamara Hervey to set out what a no-deal Brexit means for the health sector "in legal terms".

The University of Sheffield professor says that everything to do with the way we organise health and social care [safety, research, people] in the UK has something to do with the European Union.

The health and social care sector in the UK is "heavily integrated and underpinned by European Union law", she says.

Investigating unsolved Northern Ireland killings would be unfair on veterans, say 150 Tory MPs and peers.

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Labour MP Ellie Reeves says the changes proposed to the bill by the government are "utterly damning on any reasonable definition of access to justice".

She explains that changes to the small claims limit (rising from £1,000 to £5,000 in some cases, and to £2,000 in others) would "mean thousands of injured people could fall out of scope for free legal advice and representation."

Costs aren't recoverable from the losing party in a small claims court, she says, so people would have to "either pay their legal costs themselves...or forego legal assistance altogether, or simply not pursue a claim."

She says suggestions the Citizens Advice Bureau, who have had services cut, will fill the gap are "completely out of touch".

The Civil Liability Bill looks to crack down on fraudulent whiplash claims by banning offers to settle claims without the support of medical evidence. It's believed this would reduce motor insurance premiums.

It also introduces a tariff for fixed whiplash damages - with smaller amounts awarded than are currently - and will be complemented by a rise in the small claims limit to £5,000 for Road Traffic Accident claims. The small claims limit change means legal costs cannot be recovered when the damages are under the limit.

Some groups have questioned whether the bill would limit access to legal aid and whether savings would be passed onto customers by insurances companies.

Members of the committee considering a report on harassment have conflicts of interest, says Newsnight's Chris Cook.