Recent reports on the rising costs of claims relating to the miners' compensation scheme highlight the importance of the Ministry of Justice's (MOJ's) consultation into the personal injury claims process, and illustrate the need for immediate reform and the vital importance of getting the cost framework right.

With claimant fees relating to the miners' compensation now exceeding £700m, it is not surprising there has been some controversy about this, especially given the fact that the money comes from the public purse. Indeed, it has been estimated that when the final payments are made next year, £4.1bn would have been paid in compensation, with £1.3bn of that going to claimant solicitors.

Moreover, the fact that an estimated 42% of all insurers' compensation payments go to claimant lawyers simply goes to illustrate the importance of getting the new fixed fee scales right under the proposed MOJ regime.