Defendant and claimant lawyers have condemned the government’s delay in publishing its plans to reform the personal injury claims process, saying it leaves them and clients ‘in limbo’.

Recommendations which were due to be implemented by early 2008, according to Lord Falconer, the then Lord Chancellor, have yet to be published.

Proposals included raising the fast-track limit to £25,000, establishing fixed costs, early notification of claims and early admissions of liability.

Kerry Underwood, claimant solicitor and senior partner at Hertfordshire firm Underwoods Solicitors, said the delay made it impossible for law firms to plan their practice development. ‘Anyone who ran a business like this would soon be out of business. It’s just hopeless dithering.’

Henry Bermingham, president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, told the Gazette that the hiatus in publishing reform plans was preventing lawyers from investing in change.

‘Insurers and law firms would need to reengineer their staff and IT teams if the proposals went through. But until the government fires the starting gun, nobody is going to risk the money,’ he said.

Mark Fowles, head of insurance at south-west firm Veitch Penny, said uncertainty about what changes will be implemented made it impossible to ensure firms have the right combination of skills within teams.

‘If I was going to be faced with the necessity of giving answers on liability questions within strict time limits, I will need to employ different types of people in my outfit – like investigators and more paralegals.’

The Ministry of Justice said it will publish the report as soon as possible.