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MP coming under fire on compensation injury claims
HAILSHAM MP Charles Hendry has come under fire from his Liberal Democrat challenger over his 'failure to support' a move to reduce the number of compensation claims for personal injury.
Chris Bowers, prospective parliamentary candidate for Wealden, said he was fully behind Lib Dem colleague Norman Baker's bid to promote 'personal responsibility'.
But he was critical of Mr Hendry's response after the MP said the 'devil is in the detail' and refused to explicitly back the proposal.
Mr Baker, the Lib Dem MP for Polegate, is trying to get a Private Member's Bill through parliament which would place 'a greater responsibility' on a person's own actions when they are suing for personal injury.
It would mean a court would only be able to award compensation when it has been proved 'a clear breach' of a duty of care or deliberate act has caused a person injury.
Mr Baker said people should no longer be able to bring successful law suits when they have suffered harm through their own behaviour.
In supporting the Bill, Mr Bowers said, "Those of us - and there are many - who are sick of people fearing to take an initiative because they might be sued must welcome Norman Baker's Private Member's Bill on personal responsibility.
"It seeks to get courts to recognise that you can't be held responsible for causing accidental injury or damage if you've used common sense."
Mr Bowers asked his Conservative rival for his support for the Bill.
Mr Hendry replied, "The principles involved in Norman Baker's Bill are clearly ones which most people would very much sign up to. But, with all these matters, the devil is in the detail.
"As you may be aware there is no chance of the Bill being debated as there are over 50 Bills ahead of it and all such Private Members Bills fall at the end of the parliamentary session."
But Mr Bowers said he was disappointed Mr Hendry had not fully supported the aims of the Bill.
He said, "The fact that a Bill is unlikely to find any parliamentary time should be no obstacle to supporting what it aims to achieve, but even that appears to be too much for Mr Hendry to commit to.
"I find this failure to support a move aimed at tackling a problem that is hampering everything from school outings to the efficient functioning of small businesses very disappointing."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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