Plans by the Government to reduce the huge number of whiplash claims have been welcomed in Bradford, where double the number of people claim for the injury than the national average.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling yesterday launched a consultation on creating new independent medical panels to improve diagnosis of whiplash injuries.

It comes after the Telegraph & Argus reported in June that many personal injury claims were being made by motorists frustrated about their high insurance premiums who wanted some of their cash back.

The consultation aims to ensure genuine claims can still go ahead, but exaggerated, misrepresented or fraudulent claims are robustly challenged.

It will also consult on options to allow more whiplash cases to be challenged in the small claims court and to change the current position, where it can be cheaper for insurance companies to accept questionable claims than to contest them.

Bradford East MP David Ward, (Lib Dem) welcomed the latest news after his call for the personal claims system to be regulated. He said: “It’s absurd that it can often be cheaper for insurance companies to accept claims that they know to be bogus rather than challenge them in the courts.

“Tackling fraudulent and opportunistic whiplash claims is absolutely key to getting the cost of car insurance under control in Bradford. We have more than double the national average number of whiplash claims and our report last summer showed that this is one of the major factors pushing up premiums locally.

“There is still a lot of work to be done on how the new panels will be work and I will be seeking a meeting with Ministry of Justice officials to discuss their proposals in more detail. And if the Government need a demonstration that this can work, what better place to trial it than in Bradford?”

The Government said it has taken action after figures showed there had been a 60 per cent rise in personal injury claims related to road accidents since 2006, despite vehicles becoming safer and a 20 per cent reduction in the number of reported accidents over the same period.

It estimated whiplash claims cost £2 billion in 2010 or £90 per policy.

Bradford Council’s executive member for road safety, Councillor Val Slater, said: “It is fair to say we can’t presume all whiplash claims are fraudulent, but evidence does show that there has been a big rise in claims. We have to question why and hopefully this move will.”

James Dalton, head of motor and liability at the Association of British Insurers, said: “For too long, whiplash has been seen as the ‘fraud of choice’. Our roads are safer, yet every day over 1,500 whiplash claims are made.”