HL Deb 21 January 1982 vol 426 cc746-8WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the draft European Council directive on Freedom to provide Direct Insurance Services other than life assurance (R/95/76) has now been agreed; and, if not, what matters are still in dispute.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Trefgarne)

The draft non-life insurance service directive has not yet been agreed, despite intensive negotiations under the United Kingdom presidency of the EEC Council of Ministers. The principal questions which remain unresolved concern the degree of governmental control which member states should have over the terms on which service business is done into their territories; the treatment of the taxes on insurance which some member states impose: what degree of freedom of choice of applicable law should be given to the parties to insurance contracts and the treatment of compulsory insurances; and the régime to apply to the branches within the Community of insurers whose head offices are in third countries. There are also a number of other unresolved problems of a more technical nature.

House adjourned at eighteen minutes before seven o'clock.