§ Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Food (1) to what extent, and against what risks, he insures commodities bought by him, during sea transit and after arrival in the United Kingdom; by whom such insurances are underwritten and through what intermediary; and whether or not they are accepted on a normal commercial basis;
(2) the insurance premiums paid by his Department for each year since its inception in respect of marine risks; and the corresponding amounts of claims paid to his Department.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeMy Department insures against marine risks and also, in the case of refrigerated commodities, against the risk of breakdown of machinery. After arrival of the goods in the United Kingdom, my Department insures against fire, and in appropriate cases also against spontaneous combustion.
My Department's marine insurance is part of the larger Government insurance with the British insurance market and is effected through the intermediary of the Food and Supply Marine Insurance Management Committee.
My Department's fire insurance is also part of the larger Government insurance. In this case the policies are issued by Associated Fire Insurers (Government Commodities) Management Committee. 402W Both the marine and the fire insurances are effected on standard commercial policies.
The following schedule gives the information sought in respect of marine insurance premiums and claims up to 31st December, 1952. The figures for the year 1953 are not yet available.
Year Net Premiums Claims Paid or payable £ £ 1940 … … 1,155,292 1,696,088 1941 … … 2,093,057 1,608,579 1942 … … 2,271,157 1,160,361 1943 … … 2,381,455 975,451 1944 … … 1,980,055 1,445,555 1945 … … 924,302 344,534 1946 … … 1,112,192 707,667 1947 … … 1,372,356 921,198 1948 … … 1,094,441 746,803 1949 … … 1,258,726 1,052,883 1950 … … 815,637 447,041 1951 … … 806,432 581,417 1952 … … 913,051 818,904