Civil Liability Bill — New Clause 2 — Small Claims Track: Children and Protected Parties — 23 Oct 2018 at 14:45

The majority of MPs voted not to limit increases in the small claims track limit for those suffering whiplash injuries to inflationary rises only, for people who are either children or people lacking capacity to make decisions for themselves.

MPs were considering the Civil Liability Bill^[1].

The proposed new clause rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote was titled: Small Claims Track: Children and Protected Parties and began:

• “(1) The Small Claims Track Limit in relation to claims made by children and protected parties for whiplash injuries may not be increased unless the increase is to an amount which is not more than the value of £1,000 on 1 April 1999 adjusted for inflation, computed by reference to the consumer prices index.

The rejected new clause was accompanied by the following explanatory statement:

• This new clause would limit increases in the small claims track limit for those suffering whiplash injuries to inflationary rises only, for people who are either children or people lacking capacity to make decisions for themselves (as defined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005).

The small claims route can be more accessible, and lower risk, for claimants than alternative tracks. [2]

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Civil Liability Bill
• [2] Wikipedia article 'Small claims court' section on England and Wales

Debate in Parliament |