Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remark by Lord McNally on 30 January (Official Report, col. 1431) in connection with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill that ““I am quite sure that the insurance industry has been lobbying on this Bill””, whether officials at the Ministry of Justice encouraged the Justice Secretary to attend insurance industry events and to provide details of any events and meetings which were held with the industry.
Answer
Departmental officials advise the Justice Secretary on a number of matters, including any stakeholder events to which he is invited. Since the Government's consultation on Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations, officials have corresponded and met with a wide range of stakeholders, including claimant and defendant representatives. The Justice Secretary has not attended any meetings or events to discuss the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill held by the insurance industry.