Clause 4
Compensation Bill [Lords]
3:30 pm
Bridget Prentice (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Lewisham East, Labour)
I have every sympathy with the amendment. I totally agree with the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey on the principle behind his amendment. I do not think, though, that it is necessary to put it into the Bill.
The regulator is required under clause 4(2)(c) to promote the interests of persons using regulated claims management services. The provision implicitly includes advice and guidance for those wishing to pursue a compensation claim in the regulated areas. It is right that consumers have clear and relevant information on the claims process and what they can expect from authorised persons.
We will produce a leaflet aimed at those using claims management services. It will be written in plain and unambiguous terms, clearly setting out the obligations of those working in the regulated areas to provide details of the standard of services that they will provide. The leaflet will also include information on charges, cooling-off periods and consumers’ routes of redress if they have any cause for complaint. We also intend that the authorised persons should provide information and documents that are clear and easy to understand. The model rules that we published in March state that all information given to the client should be clear, transparent, fair and not misleading.
The hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey raised the issue of plain English, and I totally endorse it. We all support the example that the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire gave of a plain English explanatory note to the Coroners Bill, and that is what we want in all our communication with the public, so that the legal system and legal services are more accessible to them.
I hope that hon. Members agree that the draft regulations already sent to them are a good example of plain English. Having said that, I have made the regulations a hostage to fortune, and someone will find some gobbledegook in the middle of them and come back to me about it. I endorse the principle behind the amendment, but the Bill does not need it and I ask the hon. Gentleman to withdraw it.