Second stage review on employers' liability published

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today (Thursday) published the second stage and final report on the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance.

Unveiling the report, minister for work Des Browne said the government "is acting" and is not "walking away from the problem".

"We have been facilitating short-term improvements and helping stakeholders tackle the difficult long-term issues. We have been working with business and the insurance industry to find workable solutions and this partnership is already benefiting business," he said.

"And there's more to come. We are not walking away from the problem. We're committed to further work aimed at encouraging better health and safety in order to reduce costs to firms from injury, illness and absence; improve rehabilitation and reduce process costs," Browne said.

The report lays out specific proposals that the government is committed to as part of the longer-term agenda. These include: developing pilots to test new ways to resolve claims more quickly and with fewer associated costs; and working with insurers, business and the Health & Safety Executive to develop an approach to underwriting which better reflects the health and safety performance of individual firms.

In addition the government is working immediately to help business by:

• Postponing the introduction of the recovery of NHS Charges for personal injury claims, including Employers' Liability, by one year to November 2004;
• Reviewing the need to insure for 300,000 of the smallest single owner-employer companies;
• Providing improved guidance and information on the new Small Business Service website, currently being developed.

Browne added: "There are no quick and easy solutions and this isn't something the government can just take away and fix. This may be a final report but it certainly isn't an end to our work."