Pitt report acknowledges insurers’ strengths and weaknesses
by Gill Montia
Story link: Pitt report acknowledges insurers’ strengths and weaknesses
The Pitt report on last summer’s flooding has been published today.
Among its 92 recommendations are proposals for the development of a 25-year plan to address the issue of flooding.
The author of the report, Sir Michael Pitt, wants to see a review of building regulations for homes built or refurbished in flood-prone areas and greater collaboration […]
ABI survey reveals flooding fears
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI survey reveals flooding fears
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has been researching public attitudes towards flood risk one year after the serious flooding of summer 2007.
The study found that three-quarters of people think that not enough is being done to prevent flooding and many named improved drainage as a key priority.
Of those questioned from areas that were badly […]
Genetic testing moratorium extended to 2014
by Gill Montia
Story link: Genetic testing moratorium extended to 2014
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is extending its moratorium on the use of predictive genetic testing, to 2014.
The moratorium was established in 2001 and covers policies worth up to £500,000 for life insurance; £300,000 for critical illness insurance and £30,000 a year for income protection insurance.
The extension leaves consumers free to apply for […]
ABI advocates kitemark for floodplain homes
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI advocates kitemark for floodplain homes
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is recommending the creation of a kitemark for housing developments planned on floodplains.
The voluntary code would indicate the flood resilience level of homes by setting minimum construction standards, such as the use of water-resistant building materials.
Stephen Haddrill, the ABI’s director general, explains: “We need new homes, but the UK […]
ABI demands 25-year flood risk strategy
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI demands 25-year flood risk strategy
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published its Summer Floods 2007 report in which it calls on the Government to develop a 25-year strategy to manage flood risk in the UK.
The ABI believes the strategy should be the responsibility of a single national body, which should develop an investment programme and stronger planning controls.
The […]
ABI impatient on personal injury claim reforms
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI impatient on personal injury claim reforms
UK insurance companies are urging the Government to reform the legal system that deals with personal injury claims.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) legal costs in the current system are high, while settlement times can be lengthy.
The Government has already drawn up plans to improve the process and the ABI is keen to […]
Young drivers cause 50 accidents a day
by Gill Montia
Story link: Young drivers cause 50 accidents a day
New research confirms that young drivers are at high risk of being involved in a serious motor accident.
According to statistics from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), each day Britain’s roads see four fatalities or cases of serious injury resulting from accidents involving young drivers.
Meanwhile, the country’s eighteen-year-olds cause 50 collisions a day, nearly […]
ABI critical of Chancellor prior to Budget
by Richard Kilner
Story link: ABI critical of Chancellor prior to Budget
Chancellor Alistair Darling has been told by the ABI that the standing of financial services and the status of London as a dominant financial centre are at risk.
The Budget, which will take place on 12 March, is the first under Chancellor Darling, after ten years of Chancellor Brown’s handling of the economy.
It is expected to […]
New homes at risk of not being insured, warn ABI
by Richard Kilner
Story link: New homes at risk of not being insured, warn ABI
The ABI has warned that planning regulations need tightening up, if the government wants flooding insurance to be as widely available as is the case currently.
The ABI’s statement, made last week, also said that one million homes would be built on flood plais in the next decade, a full one third of the government’s three […]
Planners called to account on flood plain housing developments
by Gill Montia
Story link: Planners called to account on flood plain housing developments
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is accusing planners of allowing major housing developments to go ahead in areas at risk of flooding.
According to the ABI, in the past year 13 developments have secured planning consent despite the Environment Agency warning of flood risk.
Justin Jacobs, the ABI’s assistant director of property says: “Insurers want to […]
ABI Calls For Long Term Flood Strategy
by Stewart Douglas
Story link: ABI Calls For Long Term Flood Strategy
The Association of British Insurers has today said that the UK government must come up with a 25-year strategy in order to tackle the increasing problems of with flooding faced by the mainland, calling for action in preventing flooding and allocating risk away solely from the insurance industry.
The Association, or ABI, today said that the […]
ABI Back Commission Consultation On PPI Cover
by Stewart Douglas
Story link: ABI Back Commission Consultation On PPI Cover
The Association of British Insurers has today announced its support for the Competition Commission’s consultation strategy over the much-scrutinised payment protect insurance and how it is sold to consumer buyers throughout the UK.
The body responsible for voicing the views of much of the insurance industry, the ABI, today said that the Commission’s consultation into the […]
Climate Change Bill Must Be Tightened Says ABI
by Stewart Douglas
Story link: Climate Change Bill Must Be Tightened Says ABI
Any move towards curbing environmental decline and climate change by the legislature must tackle the effects and consequences of changing weather patterns, according to a statement today by the director general of the ABI.
Association of British Insurers chief Stephen Haddrill today said that the government would have to live up to the challenges facing the […]
ABI opposes changes to holiday protection scheme
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI opposes changes to holiday protection scheme
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has expressed dismay at the government’s plans to replace the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) protection scheme with a £1 levy on holidays.
ATOL is a scheme set up to protect consumers in the event of their tour operator ceasing to trade.
It is administered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) […]
Sharp rise in general insurance fraud
by Gill Montia
Story link: Sharp rise in general insurance fraud
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published its latest research into general insurance fraud, showing a sharp increase in the number of cases.
According to the ABI, one in 11 claims submitted is false, a figure threefold that of 2003.
Household insurance claims account for over half of this kind of fraud with incidents such as […]
Insurers back Lords ruling on pleural plaques
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Insurers back Lords ruling on pleural plaques
Both Zurich and ABI have responded positively by the recent Lords ruling to end any further compensation for individuals with pleural plaques.
Zurich’s technical claims manager, Steve Thomas, explained that in 2004 the firm decided to bring a test case as recent medical advances have shown that pleural plaques neither have any symptoms nor are a […]
ABI Will Withdraw Cover For Flooding
by Stewart Douglas
Story link: ABI Will Withdraw Cover For Flooding
The Association of British Insurers has today announced that its members will be unable to provide insurance cover to properties within high risk flood areas if the government sticks to its £800 million per year investment in flood defence mechanisms.
Following the government announcement that it would step up flood defence investment to £800 million on […]
ABI campaign accelerates flood defence review
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI campaign accelerates flood defence review
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has been successful in persuading the government to review its investment in Britain’s flood defences, ahead of schedule.
The review was to have taken place 2008 but will now be completed before the end of the year.
The decision follows a campaign by the ABI and threats from leading insurance providers […]
ABI acts on annuities
by Gill Montia
Story link: ABI acts on annuities
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has played a prominent role in the Government’s Open Market Option Review, details of which were published earlier this week.
The review sets out recommendations to reform the way in which people buy annuities and according to Maggie Craig, the ABI’s Director of Life and Savings, “not enough people are […]
ABI Further Warning About Flood Defence
by Stewart Douglas
Story link: ABI Further Warning About Flood Defence
The Association of British Insurers has again criticised the government for its lack of investment in flood defences, despite numerous warnings and recommendations to suggest the situation is still less than adeqaute.
The Association, which represents a large majority of UK insurance providers, today commented that the government has yet to do anything about the risk […]
