Help with lack of progress

[Legal Chump]

Does anyone have experience of how this works please? I am using legal expenses insurance so only too aware that insurers pay reduced rates but solicitors have been milking this for so long now that it is beyond a joke. Insurers insisted on an expert opinion before they'd fund any action. I've paid an expert direct for their survey and report so I didn't need to rely on the painfully slooow solicitors doing anything but they can't pass on the simplest of comments and are saying I can't speak to my own expert direct. Is there any legit or legal reason preventing me from speaking with my expert other than to avoid finding out my solicitors haven't been doing what they are supposed to have been doing for the umpteenth time?