To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the potential monetary benefit to businesses from reductions in insurance premiums consequent on implementation of the legislative changes contemplated in the provisions of Clause 61 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.

The purpose of the amendment to the Health and Safety at Work Act enacted by this clause is to reduce employer's liability insurance premiums but rather to provide a consistent approach to civil litigation across all health and safety legislation which will be simple for both employers and employees to understand. Employer's liability insurance is often sold as part of a package of insurances required by business and a wide range of factors influence the level of premiums charged, including the amount of activity undertaken by the business and the insurer's experience of the industry sector. Therefore it is not possible to quantify what, if any, impact this amendment will have on premium levels.