Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that holidaymakers are treated fairly and equitably when they claim on the travel insurance policies they may take out.

The Government encourages travellers to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when travelling abroad and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a ‘Know Before You Go’ communications campaign, which has been active since 2001. Messaging on insurance is prominent in many of our travel safety materials and we run specific campaigns on insurance. In May this year we worked with the Association of British Insurers to create a new ‘checklist’ to help travellers choose the right insurance policy for their needs, which we communicated through social media and our network of industry partners.

The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA’s Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook sets the conduct standards required of insurance firms in relation to their business, including travel insurance policies, which aim to ensure consumers are treated fairly.