News in brief

Wind storm deal
Benfield Greig and Generali France Assurances have completed a deal to provide reinsurance protection against French wind storms.

The scheme, developed by Benfield, indemnifies Generali by using a meteorological index. Benfield placed the risk in the traditional reinsurance market.

Zurich legal review
Zurich is reviewing its legal panel of 20 firms. The three-year contracts awarded in 1999 are up for renewal and the review is expected to be finished by early summer.

A Zurich spokeswoman would not reveal how many firms would comprise the panel following the review.

Chaucer cuts jobs
Chaucer Holdings has made 18 staff redundant from its motor division. The job cuts are across all levels and affect employees in its Whitstable, Kent office.

Managing director Ewen Gilmour said Chaucer had no plans for further cuts and a third of the staff had taken voluntary redundancy. The programme is estimated to have saved £700,000.

Liddell `furious'
Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell was expected to blast the insurance industry in her speech at the Chartered Insurance Institute's (CII) Presidential Dinner on Tuesday.

Liddell was reported to be "furious" with the industry's alleged slow and non-payment of asbestos claims, particularly following the Chester Street Insurance collapse. Although Chester Street's liquidator, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), has denied any delays to payments, it recently met Liddell and the Association of British Insurers to discuss the issue. A weekend report said Liddell would heavily criticise the industry at the dinner and in her answer to an adjournment debate in the House of Commons.

Ex-Indie reunion
Former Independent Insurance staff will hold a reunion on 6 April in Deansgate. They will meet at The Moon Under Water pub from 7.30pm and are encouraged to invite any former colleagues they are in contact with.