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| Insurers pushed on flood claims | Insurers pushed on flood claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Representatives from the insurance industry have met ministers to see how best to deal with the cost of claims following the recent floods. | Representatives from the insurance industry have met ministers to see how best to deal with the cost of claims following the recent floods. |
| UK insurers are facing a bill of about £1.5bn after June's floods. | UK insurers are facing a bill of about £1.5bn after June's floods. |
| The flooding is estimated to have hit 31,200 homes and 7,000 firms, mainly in the Midlands and northern England. | The flooding is estimated to have hit 31,200 homes and 7,000 firms, mainly in the Midlands and northern England. |
| Ferry operator P&O have told the BBC they have been approached by a loss adjuster to provide accommodation for displaced flood victims from Hull. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The people of Toll Bar have been affected more than can be imagined Rachel, Doncaster Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The people of Toll Bar have been affected more than can be imagined Rachel, Doncaster Send us your comments |
| The company confirmed that the request involved providing a specialist accommodation ship which would be berthed in King George Dock. | |
| Political drive | |
| Earlier, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears told the House of Commons that pressure was being applied to insurers. | Earlier, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears told the House of Commons that pressure was being applied to insurers. |
| She said: "I hope the House will appreciate how seriously we're taking this issue around insurance to make sure that claims are dealt with speedily, fairly, and [that] there is sufficient capacity to really get on with this, because this is a top priority for members of the public." | She said: "I hope the House will appreciate how seriously we're taking this issue around insurance to make sure that claims are dealt with speedily, fairly, and [that] there is sufficient capacity to really get on with this, because this is a top priority for members of the public." |
| Malcolm Tarling, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) described the meeting with ministers as "very constructive". | Malcolm Tarling, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) described the meeting with ministers as "very constructive". |
| "We believe 99% of properties have now been visited by an insurance representative or loss adjuster," he said. | "We believe 99% of properties have now been visited by an insurance representative or loss adjuster," he said. |
| "The key priority right now is to make sure that anyone whose is property is uninhabitable gets into alternative accommodation and to help business get back to trading." | "The key priority right now is to make sure that anyone whose is property is uninhabitable gets into alternative accommodation and to help business get back to trading." |
| Mr Tarling added that in the longer term, the construction industry should be given incentives to ensure all newly-built homes were better protected from flooding and local councils should ensure drainage was better. | Mr Tarling added that in the longer term, the construction industry should be given incentives to ensure all newly-built homes were better protected from flooding and local councils should ensure drainage was better. |
| Ministers have already met local councils to discuss how to spend the £14m relief package announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | |
| Spending shortfall | Spending shortfall |
| Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said the government is to increase flood defence spending from £600m this year to £800m a year in 2010/11. | Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said the government is to increase flood defence spending from £600m this year to £800m a year in 2010/11. |
| Nevertheless, insurers have been critical about the level of government spending on flood defences. | Nevertheless, insurers have been critical about the level of government spending on flood defences. |
| Last year there was a £15m shortfall in the amount of money spent on flood defences. | Last year there was a £15m shortfall in the amount of money spent on flood defences. |
| Flood in the UK, we believe, is right up there as a major world-class risk Clemont Booth, Allianz UK Q&A: Flooding and insurance | Flood in the UK, we believe, is right up there as a major world-class risk Clemont Booth, Allianz UK Q&A: Flooding and insurance |
| Under a deal struck between the government and the insurance industry in 2005, insurers agreed to continue to offer cover for homes at risk of flood. | Under a deal struck between the government and the insurance industry in 2005, insurers agreed to continue to offer cover for homes at risk of flood. |
| But if the government fails to fulfil its side of the bargain, people at risk of flooding could be refused cover by insurers. | But if the government fails to fulfil its side of the bargain, people at risk of flooding could be refused cover by insurers. |
| Insurers have also called for more information on the country's flood defences, in order to help them offer cover. | Insurers have also called for more information on the country's flood defences, in order to help them offer cover. |
| Insurance threat | Insurance threat |
| Some firms, it seems, are already re-assessing who they should insure following the recent floods. | Some firms, it seems, are already re-assessing who they should insure following the recent floods. |
| German insurer Allianz said the recent floods were a "wake-up call" for the industry. | German insurer Allianz said the recent floods were a "wake-up call" for the industry. |
| "Flood in the UK, we believe, is right up there as a major world-class risk," Clement Booth, chairman of Allianz UK, told the Financial Times newspaper. | "Flood in the UK, we believe, is right up there as a major world-class risk," Clement Booth, chairman of Allianz UK, told the Financial Times newspaper. |
| He added it was too early to say how much insurance premiums would increase by. | He added it was too early to say how much insurance premiums would increase by. |