We understand that the Personal Injury process reform announcement expected from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) at the end of March is now not likely to be made until the end of April. A source at the MoJ has said that further delay has been caused by the increasing battle being waged on the subject between the ABI and the Unions with for example, Thompsons Solicitors have recently attempted to provide the 'correct' claims figures by writing to over 350 MPs to point out the errors in the ABI's recent propaganda.

The continued uncertainty does not help an already nervous industry. It comes at a time where many high street solicitors are closing - a trend set to continue or even escalate with the reforms.

It is now expected that the reforms will be toned down following input from the Unions and likely to relate initially to just motor accident claims. This will leave the Unions and their referral income largely unscathed. The proposals for ATE Insurance are however unknown but, if cover is removed for straightforward RTA claims, the ATE industry's 'bread and butter', it is expected that many ATE providers will leave the market with F&I Solutions having already done so in advance of the announcements. Box Legal and Leeward Insurance Company Limited, have prepared revised models however, which will remain attractive to existing panel firms.