The Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS) has welcomed the Transport Select Committee's report into whiplash.

The Committee concluded that an increase in the small claims limit to £5,000 would have a detrimental effect on access to justice, increased activity by claims management companies and has the potential to fuel fraudulent or exaggerated claims.

Craig Budsworth, chair of MASS, said: "Having listened to the evidence from all sides of the debate, the Committee has produced a considered and thoughtful response to the problems of fraudulent or exaggerated claims that we all wish to tackle.

"The amount and extent of legal reform has already had a major impact on the balance between defendants and claimants and it's reassuring to read that the TSC has concluded the small claims limit should not be raised until the wider impact is better understood. The Committee has identified that bringing a personal injury claim as an individual is a complicated legal process and if it becomes harder to obtain supporting medical evidence then this would only get worse.

"The Ministry of Justice delayed its final decision to await the views of the all-party Transport Committee. We now hope that ministers listen to Parliament and accepts the Committee's recommendations."