Could I ask the Minister of State if, by the same token, he has called in and had discussions with the insurance industry regarding what measures they could take within that industry to reduce their costs and charges and could he tell us what was the outcome of those discussions?

I have had a number of discussions with the Insurance Industry Federation. As I outlined in my reply, the Courts Bill will enable them to introduce this new scheme which will give between a 10 per cent to 20 per cent no-claims bonus to young drivers taking out their first policies if they had been named drivers on their parents' policies for two years, have a full licence and are accident free. Also, the Minister for Industry and Commerce pointed out during the summer to the insurance industry that he will not necessarily approve increases in insurance premia just as a matter of course.

Is the Minister of State satisfied that all we are going to see from the passage of the Courts Bill is a 10 per cent no-claims bonus for young drivers? Are we not going to see a general reduction in premia as a result of the implementation of the Courts Bill?

That is a good point. We have made it quite clear to the insurance companies that for a long time now they have been saying that if they get the Courts Bill they will bring down costs. We intend to hold them to that commitment.

How will you hold them to it?

Let me just say that it is our intention as soon as the Courts Bill is enacted that we will look towards the insurance companies for a reduction in their premia. As the Minister for Industry and Commerce pointed out, he will not necessarily be sanctioning any increases in their premia.

We are talking about reductions, not increases.

Reducing insurance premia is only one part of a programme. The programme includes items such as the Courts Bill, the number of lawyers involved in a case, a book of quantum of damages if that is possible, looking at pre-trial procedures, what various Departments can do about greater safety on the roads and the question of uninsured drivers which adds about £70 to £80 on every premium in the country. All those matters are being looked at very carefully. Other Departments are involved. Both the Minister for Industry and Commerce and I are working on a programme to reduce insurance costs. There is no one spot on which you could put your finger on and say by tackling that it will make a major difference.