Consultation process over proposed legal aid cuts skewed in favour of insurers
October 13, 2011
Posted by:Cheryl Abrahams
Records of meetings where civil servants told insurers they were "pushing at an open door" over proposed legal aid changes that would benefit the insurance industry by hundreds of millions of pounds have been handed to the Guardian. The documents record discussions between insurers, the NHS and government officials working under Jonathan Djanogly, the justice minister which took place in January. During the meeting firms such as Aviva, Axa and Direct Line as well as representatives of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) were told there was "an opportunity to try to influence those who will be controlling this consultation process". Mr Djanolgly is clearly protecting his own and the insurance industries interests and ignoring the injustice that these proposed policies will bring to injured people.