Ageing gracefully?

I have decided to have a blog holiday next week as I am set to become as old as the NHS – not a happy thought!

There’s certainly a lot going on around age, discrimination and equality these days, particularly with the publication of the European Commission’s proposals yesterday for a directive aimed at tackling those very issues.

It will be interesting to see how the Commission’s proposed concessions for the insurance industry work out in practice and whether they will have an adverse impact on the availability and affordability of cover. You can expect the industry to be pretty vocal on this. I may even have to declare a conflict of interest after my birthday next week!

Talking about conflicts, I wonder what shape the FSA will be in when it is as old as the NHS – that’s not a happy thought either! While we’re on the subject of the FSA, one of the issues that some members have raised again is the overall cost of regulation (perhaps fuelled by the regulator’s annual report and Clive Briault’s leaving payment) so I am going to put that back on BIBA’s agenda.

Anyway, that’s enough about regulation and about me. Every day above ground is a bonus so I am going to enjoy that bonus – God willing!