Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make representations to representatives of the insurance industry on the policy of charging ex-offenders higher rates for car and other types of insurance.

The government regularly engages with insurers and their representatives.

The government recognizes that various factors can impact on availability, pricing and terms of insurance policies. A conviction can be an indicator of risk. As such, some, but not all insurers use previous convictions as a rating factor.

The respective capabilities of insurers to assess risk is a key element on which they compete. We do not prescribe the terms, conditions or price that insurance companies may set when offering insurance. This competition is important and should lead to better products and lower prices for consumers overall.

However, when a conviction has been spent, it need not be disclosed and insurers are under a legal obligation to disregard it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, as amended by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment Act 2012.

The government believes that it is important that consumers have access to suitable insurance products at the right price. The charity Unlock provides further guidance specifically for those with previous convictions in accessing insurance services and can be found at www.unlock.org.uk.