PRACTICES OF UDM VENDSIDE

Early day motion 2310, tabled 6 June 2006 by Lord Mann (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House welcomes the progress to date of the Compensation Bill [Lords] and its intention of regulating claims handlers; notes that the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) and its subsidiary Vendside have been given preferential treatment by the Department of Trade and Industry due to the latter drawing-up a unique claims handling agreement for vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in addition to another agreement for industrial hearing loss; is concerned that these agreements allow a claims handler to represent clients without solicitors and that there is therefore no regulatory redress for clients who have complaints about charges or other matters; condemns the refusal of UDM Vendside to allow clients a copy of their case file, a practice that is commonplace for solicitors, and puts current and former miners at a disadvantage when taking an industrial disease or injury claim through the UDM; and calls on the Department of Trade and Industry to withdraw from all its arrangements with UDM Vendside unless and until claimants have equivalent rights of redress to those who use solicitors.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1.