Consultation outcome

Damages Act 1996: the discount rate: review of the legal framework

From:
Ministry of Justice
Published
12 February 2013
Last updated
30 March 2017 — See all updates
This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Damages Act 1996: The Discount Rate Review of the Legal Framework - response to consultation

PDF, 628 KB, 40 pages

Detail of outcome

The consultation was published in February 2013. 66 responses were received. The consultation asked whether the legal parameters governing the way in which the discount rate is currently calculated are appropriate and whether there is a case for encouraging the use of periodical payments.

On the first issue widely diverging views were expressed and overall the responses demonstrated very little consensus on whether the current legal parameters were appropriate.

On the second issue, there was only limited support for the greater encouragement of periodical payments in England and Wales for a variety of reasons.

Original consultation

Summary

We are seeking views on how the discount rate of damages or compensation for personal injury claims is set and how the money is paid.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

This consultation paper seeks views on 2 subjects relating to the setting of the discount rate under section 1 of the Damages Act 1996:

  • Whether the legal parameters defining how the rate is set should be changed
  • Whether there is a case for encouraging the use of periodical payment orders instead of lump sum payments

Please note: the consultation paper was revised on 5 March 2013 to correct an error in paragraph 79. This paragraph stated that there could be around 1800 periodical payment orders being made annually. It now states that there could be about 200 to 250 periodical payment orders being made annually.

This consultation is aimed at:

  • citizens
  • litigants
  • legal professionals

This is a joint consultation produced by the Ministry of Justice, the Scottish Government and the Department of Justice, Northern Ireland.

Documents

Consultation Paper: Damages Act 1996, the discount rate review of the legal framework

PDF, 286 KB, 51 pages

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Deddf Iawndal 1996: Cyfradd y Disgownt Adolygu'r Fframwaith Cyfreithiol

PDF, 94.8 KB, 2 pages

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Impact assessment: costs and benefits associated with adopting different parameters to set the discount rate

PDF, 192 KB, 24 pages

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Published 12 February 2013
Last updated 30 March 2017 + show all updates

  1. Consultation response published.

  2. First published.