High street brokers "unsurprised" at results of survey into Lloyd's efficiency.

Half of Lloyd's brokers have failed to send terms of business agreements (Tobas) to provincial brokers.

A straw poll conducted by Insurance Times revealed the slow progress made by the Lloyd's market in issuing the agreements.

But high street brokers said they were "unsurprised" by Lloyd's brokers' slow progress.

Several reported that where they had received agreements they were forced to return them to Lloyd's brokers to check terms regarding risk transfer, non-solicitation and co-mingling.

The managing director of one regional broker said that when he had spoken to his Lloyd's broker about its policy on risk transfer he was told: "We don't read the agreements, we just send them out."

Cornwall & Devon Insurance Services manager Kevin Sellars said he placed "99% of business through HSBC", but he had received "nothing" from the broker.

HSBC was unavailable for comment.

London Market Insurance Brokers Committee (LMBC) executive director David Hough admitted that problems were arising between Lloyd's brokers and underwriters.

"Underwriters are reluctant to say what business they will underwrite and this is having an impact on what is being sent out.

"They are waiting to see what comes out of the meetings between the [Lloyd's Market Association] LMA and the LMBC.

"We are hoping to finalise something with the LMA by the end of March. We have had a few meetings, it is going slowly but we are moving in the right direction."

West Bromwich based Ault Insurance Brokers managing director Richard Ault commented: "It is rare for the market to act in concert.

"We have had responses from some, and not from others."

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