The "spiralling cost" of motor insurance in the UK "is primarily the result of market dysfunction and, in particular, the escalation of uncontested claims for whiplash injury", according to the latest report from the Commons Select Transport Committee. Chairwoman Louise Ellman said that insurers, solicitors and claims management companies were each in part responsible for the rise in premium levels by encouraging innocent parties in accidents to claim for personal injury, car hire and other legal costs. The Committee noted that many of the personal injury claims were for whiplash, where diagnosis was often subjective. It recommended that the threshold for receiving compensation in whiplash injury claims be raised. If that fails to reduce significantly the number of whiplash injury related claims, "the Government should bring forward primary legislation to require objective evidence ... before compensation is paid". The Committee expressed concern at the way the Government planned to stop referral fees in personal injury cases. Ms Ellman noted that the imminent relaxation on the rules relating to the ownership of law firms – under which law firms will be able to seek external investment – could render ineffective the Government's current planned response. Ms Ellman said that the new legislation should be implemented in such a way that it would "prohibit insurers from receiving referral fees across the board rather than simply in relation to legal action", but also said that "the Government must oblige insurers to provide clear information to consumers about how and where they pay referral fees". She noted that insurers could set up their own personal injury law firms, and that "insurers could be acting as lawyers as well as insurance companies, still gaining financially".