REQUEST TO EXAMINE SOLICITORS' FEE STRUCTURE IN MINING HEALTH CLAIMS (NO. 5)

Early day motion 635, tabled 12 February 2004 by Michael Clapham (Labour). Signed by 49 members.

That this House condemns the activities of so-called claims handling firms such as Union and General Services Limited who solicit claims from former miners and their families and then sell them on to solicitors; notes that a deduction for the fee payable to the handling firms is then made prior to the solicitor releasing the compensation payment; believes that this practice is both ethically and morally wrong because the service is provided for the solicitor and it is they who should pay the fee from the legal costs they receive from the Department for Trade and Industry; requests that all solicitors like Frank Allen Pennington who use claims handlers reimburse clients the fee deducted from their compensation; observes that claims handlers are outside the scope of the Law Society; and calls on the Solicitor-General speedily to implement regulations to control their activities.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 1.