§ Mr. Spenceasked the Lord President of the Council what are the full terms, conditions, exclusions and qualifications of the personal accident insurance policy cover on Members of Parliament and paid for out of public funds; whose interest is being insured; who are the benficiaries in the event of any claim arising; what opportunity Members of Parliament have of knowing of the existence of such insurance cover and of naming a beneficiary or beneficiaries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe details are as follows:
Assured: The House of Commons, Westminster, SW1.
Type: Group Personal Accident.
Period: 1st August to 31st July in each year.
Interest: Covering Members of the House of Commons whilst away from the Palace of Westminster on Government business whilst serving on a Parliamentary Committee or delegation which has been directly set up by the House or Committee of Selection or by Mr. Speaker or by the Government.
Benefits: £25,000 Death, loss of one or more limbs or eyes and permanent total disablement. £100 per week—Temporary total disablement. 104 weeks Medical Expenses limited to £15 per cent. of TTD claim. Maximum Sum Insured, £400,000.
Conditions: To include flying in helicopters. Any compensation payable under this policy
260Wshall be payable NOT to the Insured but to the Insured Person or his personal and /or Legal representatives.
Exclusions: Those appertaining to the normal Lloyd's Accident policy.
Premium: Minimum and Deposit £200 payable at inception adjustable at expiry.
Effected with: Lloyd's Underwriters.
A memorandum on the details of the accident policy is available in the Committee Office, and Clerks attending Members on the business of the House are instructed to bring the attention of this memorandum to the notice of Members. Members themselves are responsible for naming a benficiary or beneficiaries.
§ Mr. Spenceasked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied, in the event of any claim whatsoever arising and covered by the personal accident insurance policy on Members of Parliament and which is paid for out of public funds, that insurers cannot successfully disclaim liability because of the absence of a legally insurable interest on the part of the payer of the premium; what right the Member's widow or family or estate have to enforce payment of the sum insured: against whom the right is enforceable; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI have no reason to doubt that any claim made under this policy will be disclaimed by the insurer. Although the premium is paid from public funds, any claim arising must be preferred by the insured person, his executors or administrators, who similarly must prefer any legal action which may be undertaken against the insurers.
§ Mr. Spenceasked the Lord President of the Council what are the name and address of the insurers who presently provide personal accident insurance risk cover on Members of Parliament, the name and address of the brokers involved, the premium amount and the basis of computation of the premium; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Edward ShortLloyd's Underwriters of the City of London are the insurers who provide personal accident insurance risk cover on Members of Parliament travelling away from the Palace of Westminster on Government business whilst serving on a Parliamentary Committee or Delegation which has been 261W directly set up by the House or Committee of Selection or by Mr. Speaker or by the Government. The brokers are Wigham Poland Ltd. of Bevington House 24–26 Minories, London EC3. The minimum and deposit premium is £200 at inception and adjusted at expiry as follows:
Period Including Flying Excluding Flying £ £ 1 day 2.50 1.88 3 days 5.00 4.38 5 days 6.25 5.00 7 days 6.88 5.63 9 days 7.50 6.25 2 days 8.75 7.50 16 days 9.38 8.13 23 days 10.63 9.38 1 month 11.88 10.63 Thereafter per week 1.50 1.42 Thereafter per month 5.63 5.63 With effect from 1st August 1973 above rates reduced by 10 per cent. allowed off annual adjustment.
Helicopters—on declaration additional 100 per cent.
Limit any one aeroplane increased to £400,000.