Tory plan welcomed
AXA PPP healthcare has welcomed the Conservative party's proposals for a radical shake-up of the NHS.
The shadow health secretary Liam Fox suggested the government should …
Tory plan welcomed
AXA PPP healthcare has welcomed the Conservative party's proposals for a radical shake-up of the NHS.
The shadow health secretary Liam Fox suggested the government should subsidise the cost of private operations for patients who choose to opt out of NHS care. AXA PPP medical and health policy director Adrian Bull said: "We as an industry should be able to develop policies whose prices reflect the relatively lower cost of treatment."
Irish inquiry
The Irish deputy prime minister Mary Harney has announced a Competition Authority investigation into the insurance industry.
Harney said the authority would seek reactions from interested parties on the proposed scope of the study, which is likely to include motor, employers' and public liability insurance, and the approach it would take.
"Issues relating to rivalry between companies and barriers to entry will be examined," she said.
Interested parties will have up to 1 November to make submissions on the draft terms of reference.
Broker merger1
Reading-based broker the Goss Group has merged with Guildford-based Pendleton May Group to create one of the largest brokers in the South.
Goss Group managing director Michael King said: "This is a strategic merger designed to increase market share, and will make the organisation one of the largest in the South of England, putting it among the top 25 UK intermediaries."
WTC fallout
The insurance and reinsurance markets have absorbed the fallout from the WTC attacks, according to a report from the Benfield Group.
It said reinsurers' costs for WTC development are significantly lower than first feared and highlighted the benefits of the emerging "reinsurance order", caused as a result of 11 September.
