I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 17 and 26 together.
In accordance with the recent Government decision on this matter, an interdepartmental implementation group has been set up to progress the establishment of a personal injuries assessment board to be known as PIAB. The group convened its first meeting earlier this week.
The Courts Service is represented on the group and the issue of the relationship between the courts and the PIAB will be addressed in the course of the group's work. The intention is that the PIAB, at this point in time, will operate within the overall courts structure. The group, which also includes a representative from the Office of the Attorney General, will consider what legislative changes, if any, are necessary in advance of the PIAB being established. The group hopes to submit its report before the end of this year, with the PIAB becoming operational in 2002.
We are confident that the establishment of the PIAB will achieve a reduction in the delivery costs of personal injury compensation for work related injuries in its initial term of operation and later in motor injury cases. The special working group which recommended the establishment of the PIAB conducted a preliminary examination of the potential savings that could be achieved in the delivery costs of compensation. While this suggests that such savings would be substantial, it is difficult to be precise since the extent of the savings will depend, for example, on the proportion of cases in which the PIAB judgment forms the basis of settlement as well as issues such as the operating costs of the new assessment board.