Only a couple of months ago the Prisons and Courts Bill was published ready for debate in Parliament.  However the snap general election meant the bill was dropped as there was no chance to debate it before Parliament was dissolved.

The proposed whiplash reforms included in the bill were designed to limit fraudulent whiplash claims, and included an increase in the small claims limit to £5,000 for whiplash claims only.

The whiplash measures were expected to cut motor insurance premiums by about £40 per year. With a year that started with record high insurance premiums, due in part to the rise in Insurance Premium Tax and the Ogden rate reforms, this potential saving was a rare piece of good news for motorists.