Derek McDowell (Labour)

Does the Minister mean to have the damages assessed? The reason is that insurance companies regularly agree and pay damages in circumstances where they do not think they should be liable because they want to get it off their books. It is not unusual for them to pay out even in circumstances where they think they should not pay out without the consent of their insured. They might agree to run it through and if the damages are not high, they will pay it. If, on the other hand, the damages are more than a certain amount, they will take the case to court. I can envisage insurance companies doing that.