MoJ confirms rethink on timetable for RTA portal extension

The MoJ has confirmed this morning that justice secretary Chris Grayling is 'considering afresh' the timetable for expansion of the RTA portal to include RTA, employers' and public liability claims worth up to £25,000.

Claims Portal, the company behind the portal, warned last week that 'significant amendments' to the draft civil procedure rules next year would give it 'insufficient time' to implement the government's plans to expand the portal on 1 April 2013.

The company also said that in any event, A2A (application to application) access to the portal would not available by April, causing 'additional effort and cost' to firms handling employer's and public liability claims.

A spokesman for the MoJ said today: 'Earlier this year the government announced proposals to extend the road traffic accident scheme for personal injury claims to £25,000. ?

'Following a legal challenge the justice secretary is now considering afresh the timing for implementation of the extended scheme. Further details will be announced in the New Year.'

The legal challenge came from APIL, which revealed late last week that it had been told of the rethink during the initial stages of a judicial review it is bringing against the MoJ with MASS.

'We have said from the outset that we do not object in principle to the introduction of changes which speed up and improve the civil justice system for the benefit of all parties,' APIL president Karl Tonks said.

'Our concern in this instance, however, is that proper consideration of key issues was being sacrificed in favour of an impractical ambition to introduce extensions to the RTA portal by next April.

'We look forward now to offering further input on what the implementation date may be.'