We are disappointed with your bird flu story on the front page of last week's Insurance Times (News 23 February).
The story was both inaccurate and misleading, despite the correct information bein …
We are disappointed with your bird flu story on the front page of last week's Insurance Times (News 23 February.
The story was both inaccurate and misleading, despite the correct information being given to your journalist.
The livestock policy offered through Heath Lambert that covers bird flu has not been withdrawn. The underwriter of this cover was away and, by the time he returned, bird flu had been reported in France and Germany.
The underwriter asked us to pause underwriting new risks from Monday 20 February while we review the situation, as there was a lot of confusion in the information being published in the press.
It is not set in stone that the book of business is closed. It may re-open in the future orperhaps for risks in the North or Scotland.
It is important to remember, as we stated in November, that unlike other industries, poultry farmers will receive 100% compensation from the government. Our cover was a top-up on that compensation, so your statement that the insurance industry is leaving the poultry industry high and dry is a gross mis-statement.
Finally, we would point out that Heath Lambert together with Lloyd's Underwriters honoured all renewals during the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.
Bill White
FSJ account executive
Heath Lambert Group
