Politics
"Ghost" brokers charged with offences totalling £500,000
Three individuals - a man and a woman from Kent and a man from West London - have been charged with motor insurance fraud, tax fraud and money laundering with offences totalling £500,000.
Jackson consultation silent on referral fees
The Government said it was waiting for the Legal Services Board review before it made a decision on whether to abolish referral fees.
Biba calls on Government to stem "spiralling" motor insurance costs
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) has called on the Government to implement an eight point plan to reduce the rising cost of motor insurance.
News: Large-scale pension reforms loom
If you do not have a pension scheme in place, then now is the time to act, as a series of state-mandated reforms is set to bite following the Spending Review.
News Analysis - Conferences: Prime Minister announces £200m university and enterprise link
This year's Chartered Management Institute and Confederations of Business Industry conferences pulled in the big hitters as business leaders attended to work out how best to plan for the period of austerity ahead.
News Analysis - Spending Review: Coalition cuts deep to stimulate recovery
Emmanuel Kenning finds that brokers are determined to be optimistic in the wake of the Chancellor's £81bn of public sector cuts announced in the Spending Review.
Viewpoint: Spending Review demands wise heads
Managers have had a difficult year, facing not only continued economic uncertainty and the lowest-recorded levels of employee morale but also the recently announced Comprehensive Spending Review, signalling the biggest business shake-up in decades.
Risk management/claims: Brokers warned: enforce EL or risk legal action
Brokers that fail to advise clients about environmental liability risks could face legal action following a government crackdown.
Slow insurer processing could mean a backlog of IPT charges
Brokers could be left to foot the bill if insurers choose to apply the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) increase from the date it hits their books, according to the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba).
Reportage - Future of regulation: Predicting the future
Everyone is aware the FSA is on its way out but what is less certain is how the new regulatory structure will operate. Liz McMahon explores what brokers can expect in the medium to long-term future.
News review: October
The founder and chairman of direct insurer Esure, Peter Wood, revealed that 2014 would be the earliest date that the company would launch an initial public offering.
Power hour: Giving something back
With the Government's introduction of the Big Society concept and public spending review, it is clear the private sector will need to step up its support of communities. This month's roundtable explores how the insurance industry should contribute…
Health news: PMI providers warned against taking advantage of public cuts
In the wake of the Government's controversial benefit cuts, health insurance providers have been warned against tapping into highly emotive areas by mutual insurer National Friendly.
Big Society could offer brokers ray of light
The Government's sweeping public spending cuts could be a double-edged sword for regional brokers.
Agenda: Commission disclosure
The European Union (EU) is now putting together its consultation paper on a revised Insurance Mediation Directive and this will include their views on commission disclosure.
Biba health group gets ex Amii chairman on board as it tackles IPT
The former chairman of the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (Amii) Mike Izzard has joined the Healthcare Focus Group of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) along with Wayne Pointin, from Jelf Employee Benefits.
GDP rises 0.8% in Q3
The UK’s gross domestic product increased by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2010, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.
Insurance Age blog: Disgruntled from Barnet
While our traditional British reserve, or some might say apathy, means that we haven't followed our French neighbours in taking to the streets, setting a few cars alight and literally running riot, I don't think it will be long before the full impact of…
Spending Review 2010: AA disappointed at drop in flood defence spending
AA Insurance has voiced its concern that spending on flood defence will not be maintained at current levels.
Spending Review 2010: Forum of Private Business voices job creation worries
The Forum of Private Business has reacted to the “tough choices” faced by the coalition goverment in implementing “painful public spending cuts for many small businesses as well as the public.”
Spending Review 2010: ABI and Biba disappointed over flood defence cuts
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has seen its budget cut from £2.9bn this financial year to £2.2bn in 2014-15. The settlement provides for £2bn to be spent on flood and coastal defences over the Spending Review period,…
News Analysis - Gender equality: Ensuring equality
Emmanuel Kenning asks if the insurance industry should be congratulating or chastising itself over its equal pay record between the sexes.
Westfield absorbs tax increase and holds rates firm
Westfield Health has announced it will not immediately pass on the 1% rise in insurance premium tax (IPT) to policyholders - a decision set to cost the not-for-profit health insurance provider an estimated £530,000 per year.