ADMISSION ISSUERachael Simpson's letter (see [2001] Gazette, 17 May, 16) only confirms what I believed already.

The insurance industry cannot be trusted to hold to an admission.

Its solicitors are prepared to boast about that fact, delighting in the costs consequences for claimants.

The message for claimants' solicitors is clear.

An admission may prove worthless.

If in any doubt do not rely upon it.

Continue to incur the cost of ensuring that your liability case is in order.

In a conditional fee agreement (CFA) case stand by your success fee.

The message to the insurance industry is: this is a situation of your own making.

If you wish to be able to resile from admissions there can be no bleating about the costs consequences.

The message to costs judges should be this is the real world in which we work.

Do not penalise a claimant's solicitor for doing what is only right to protect their client.

An admission should not preclude a claim for costs for work to prove liability.

In a CFA case an admission should not have much impact on the success fee - only with hindsight will we know that it was of any value.

Ian Cross, Veale Wasbrough, Bristol