§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can give figures for the latest available year, showing (1) the total amount paid in insurance claims arising out of motor vehicle accidents and (2) the total paid in the the same period in insurance claims for losses arising out of theft, breaking and other offences against property.
§ LORD RHODESThe amounts, paid out by United Kingdom insurers in claims during 1963, the latest available year, and set aside for outstanding claims at the end of 1963, including amounts outstanding from earlier years, were as follows:
£ Motor business 265,532,000 Marine, Aviation and other transit business 75,200,000 Fire business 201,349,000 Other general business 151,044,000 These figures relate to world business. Separate figures are not available for I claims paid and outstanding for losses in the United Kingdom.
It has been estimated that some £110,000,000 a year is paid by United Kingdom insurers in respect of damage claims and some £40,000,000 in respect of personal injury and death claims under United Kingdom motor policies.
The figures for theft and offences against property are included above partly under marine, aviation and other transit business (for example, claims in connection with lorries, ships, transit sheds and warehouses), partly under fine business (for example, claims arising under householders' comprehensive policies) and partly under other general business (for example, claims under office and shop premises, burglary policies, all risk policies on valuables and fidelity guarantee policies on employees). A very rough estimate for such insured losses in the United Kingdom is £50,000,000.
The amounts paid under insurance policies do not represent the full amount of losses since only the risk of personal injury or death of third parties from motor accident is compulsorily insurable in the United Kingdom.