View from the top: Time to fight our corner

Well, not only did we get a new government but we also got a new type of government in the form of a coalition.

This presents the industry with an opportunity to re-engage with policymakers in a new way. Too often in the past we have retreated into our respective corners, each making demands of the other. This does neither of us any favours.

I want us to take a more progressive approach. There are big issues to be tackled and we'll only succeed by seeking common ground rather than taking traditional entrenched positions. I think that the way we deal with employers' liability issues can act as a blueprint for the future.

I firmly believe that the proposed tracing office is the right answer for customers and the industry and that's why I agreed to be its provisional chair. It has to be right that claimants can quickly and effectively trace the appropriate policy and bring a claim. Before regulation we have an opportunity to show government we can move forward as an industry and I would urge lawyers and claimant bodies to work with us to do the right thing.

I also believe that we have a moral duty to help people who have suffered injury or disease and are unable to trace their employer or insurer. However, creating an EL insurance bureau would be a disproportionate response. The most pressing concern is for mesothelioma sufferers who are unable to trace insurers where cover was rightly in place. I believe that innovative solutions could be found for such cases without putting an unnecessary burden on employers today. For example, cutting unnecessary legal costs could help fund compensation for those who were almost certainly insured but cannot trace an insurer.

The industry's reputation suffers when legitimate claimants find it difficult to trace the insurer and we are not seen to respond. Rather than wait for government to legislate and force us into action I believe our reputation can only be enhanced if we are seen to be doing the right thing and act first.

Adrian Brown,
UK CEO, RSA

Agree? Disagree?
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