Politics
Lords: Independent body must oversee mesothelioma compensation scheme
Labour MPs criticise unfair start date that excludes half of all sufferers
Levene calls for clarity around Co-op's failed bid for Lloyds branches
Former Lloyd's chairman Lord Levene has called on government to confirm whether it favoured the Co-operative Bank's takeover bid of 632 Lloyds Banking Group branches over one by his own vehicle, NBNK.
Transport minister unveils fixed penalty rise for motoring offences
Careless motorists who put other road users at risk and those that get behind the wheel without insurance face on-the-spot penalties under new measures revealed today by road safety minister Stephen Hammond.
Roundtable - Legal Reforms: Jackson reforms: First impressions
Implemented as part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, how have the Jackson reforms affected the industry so far – and what will their impact be in the future?
Property Claims 2013: Property profitability under threat, says LV boss O’Roarke
Comparison sites and building practices pose problems
Another lobbying scandal: how much longer before the government acts?
News of further lobbying scandals broke last week and hit the headlines of most of the national papers over the weekend.
Axa chief urges French president to learn from British mistakes
Axa chairman and chief executive Henri de Castries has called for French president François Hollande to "learn the lessons of Britain's experience" in the 1970s and tackle the levels of debt in France's economy.
Biba conference 2013: News round-up
This year’s British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference attracted more than 4750 brokers and 168 exhibitors to the Excel Centre in London’s Docklands.
Flood clauses to be added to Water Bill as minister hints at ABI agreement
Environment minister Richard Benyon has suggested that additional clauses will be inserted into the government’s upcoming Water Bill, in order to serve as a legislative vehicle for the implementation of the Association of British Insurers’ ‘Flood Re’…
Editor's comment: Time for a new strategy
Last week some new battle lines were drawn, while others pulled back their troops, took stock of the situation and dug new trenches.
Scots disproportionately affected by new flood plan
The Scottish Parliament has been challenged to secure a greater voice in the UK flood debate following concerns the Association of British Insurers' Flood Re model represents a raw deal for residents north of the border.
ABI welcomes government strategy to promote the UK insurance industry
The Association of British Insurers has welcomed Greg Clark’s, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, announcement of a dedicated insurance industry strategy to enhance the industry’s position as leader in global business.
Whiplash: Whipping up a storm
As the debate about bogus whiplash claims rumbles on, opinion is divided on whether two investigations into the issue are warranted and what impact they will have
Scottish Water pipeline put in doubt after liability agreement failure
Scottish Water has come in for criticism after its failure to secure a standard liability agreement resulted in work on a £2.65m pipeline being abandoned.
DWP signs Biba collaboration deal
Work and Pensions secretary Mark Hoban MP has inked a deal to push collaboration and intelligence sharing between the UK government and the British Insurance Brokers Association.
Midwives professional indemnity: Communication breakdown with PI specialists leaves ball in coalition’s court
Government tasked to intervene as midwives’ insurance talks corrode
Tax Avoidance: Insurers warned over tax avoidance after WHA loses appeal in NIG VAT case
VAT not recoverable in offshore scheme involving NIG, Crystal and Viscount
Government introduces Mesothelioma Bill
The Government has introduced the Mesothelioma Bill which will pave the way for a ‘Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme’.
Top five European news stories
The top five stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days,
Broking Supplement: Comment - Steve White
Biba's new chief executive Steve White looks forward to the challenges he will face in his new role.
Surgeons offered complication cover following breast implants scandal
A compulsory scheme providing cosmetic surgeons with complication insurance cover has been earmarked as an important step towards avoiding a repeat of the aftermath of the Poly Implant Prothèse scandal.
Lords’ EL U-turn brings uncertainty and will lead to satellite litigation
Insurers have been warned they may face increased indemnity spend for employers’ liability claims, as legislation passed by the House of Lords last week in the form of the Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Act 2012 will require time-consuming and costly…
Editor's comment: A bit of common sense
Last week, the House of Lords turned back the clock 100 years on employer liabilities for breaches of health and safety duties and passed what has been referred to in its very chambers as an “ugly” part of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.