Government plans to change the personal injury compensation system could deny some workers access to justice, the Justice Select Committee has warned. The committee examined the impact of raising the personal injury (PI) small claims limit from £1,000 to £2,000 and to £5,000 for Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) related claims, part of a package of government reforms. Chair of the justice committee, Bob Neill MP, said: “Access to justice, including the right of access to the courts, is a cornerstone of the rule of law but these reforms risk putting that right in doubt. We share strong concerns that were raised during our inquiry on this issue, including concerns about the financial and procedural barriers that claimants might face.” Shopworkers’ union Usdaw welcomed the committee’s report. General secretary John Hannett said: “We are delighted that the select committee has listened to our evidence-based campaign opposing employer and public liability claims under £2,000 being pushed into the small claims courts. The complexity of workplace injury cases make them entirely unsuitable for a small claims court, where the costs of taking a case cannot be recovered.” He added: “The government needs to think very carefully about how they proceed, to ensure that there aren’t unintended consequences for workers’ health and safety. The report from the Justice Select Committee should prompt a government reconsideration of this unjust and unnecessary legislation.”