Written statement on Whiplash reform: The Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025 - March 20

Minister of State for Justice (Sarah Sackman): I would like to inform the House that I am laying the draft Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025 by way of affirmative procedure.

Subject to approval by both Houses, the Regulations will increase the fixed tariff of compensation for whiplash injuries lasting up to two years which occur on or after 31 May 2025. In doing this, the Regulations will implement the recommendations made by the Lord Chancellor in her report of the statutory review of the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, published on 21 November 2024.

The whiplash tariff compensation figures will be around 15% higher than the original tariff which was brought into force in 2021 by the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. This is to both account for the effects of inflation since 2021 (by measure of the Consumer Prices Index) and to include a buffer for expected inflation until 2027. The uplift will ensure that claimants can continue to receive appropriate compensation for whiplash injuries that occur before the next statutory review of the tariff. The original whiplash tariff from 2021 will continue to apply to relevant whiplash injuries from road traffic accidents that occur before 31 May 2025.