The Lloyd's franchise board will write to all Lloyd's managing agents to ask them to examine operations to make sure they are not engaging in anti-competitive practices, reports said.

Lloyd's and the London market are expected to hold internal reviews to convince its own board that anti-competitive practices are not taking place.

Reports claimed it was the latest sign that Eliot Spitzer's investigation into Marsh & McLennan Companies would have repercussions for the UK insurance industry.

Lloyd's is understood to be telling the 45 managing agents that run 66 Lloyd's syndicates that they should take steps to satisfy themselves that their underwriters and staff are not engaging in bid rigging or price fixing.

Contingent commissions, the practice at the centre of Spitzer's investigation, will not come under scrutiny.

Investigations that had already been carried out found no evidence of any illegal practices, the reports said.