Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of to Question 291263, what steps (a) his Department and (b) the FCA have taken to ensure that insurers are aware of their responsibility to inform consumers of changes to the way their policies are serviced in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

HMT has been assessing the risk that a small minority of insurance payments from UK insurers into the EU may be delayed. While HMT is responsible for setting the policy direction, it is the role of the independent regulator – the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – to engage with industry and test firm planning.

The FCA has made it clear to insurers and insurance intermediaries that they should have appropriate plans in place to manage a no-deal exit, this should include plans to communicate with consumers should there be a change in the way their policy is serviced. The FCA expects firms to continue to service all their customers as fully and fairly as the law permits, including what regulatory protections will apply for their customers. The FCA has delivered these messages through a combination of direct contact with firms, senior leadership speeches, dedicated Brexit pages on its website, and trade association events.