§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will conduct a review of the costs incurred by householders whose properties are affected by mining subsidence in obtaining structural engineering reports;
(2) if he will conduct a review of the problems of household insurance for householders whose properties are affected by mining subsidence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleI see no grounds for such a review. The Association of British Insurers has recently assured me that there is definitely no industry bar on writing subsidence cover in coal mining areas. The industry's general principles are that existing contracts will be offered for renewal at expiry, subject to the usual underwriting criteria on any cover renewal including features such as claims in the year, new material features etc, but such decisions are matters for the individual insurer in the light of its own criteria.