BIBA chief executive, Eric Galbraith has called on HM Treasury and the new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to work together towards delivering the right regulation for insurance brokers. Galbraith called for “regulation that is appropriate and proportionate to the low risks that we pose”.

In his opening address at BIBA’s 2011 Conference in Manchester, he said he recognised the political pressure for regulatory change but emphasised the importance of this not resulting in detriment to the appropriateness, proportionality and cost of any regime for insurance brokers.

Galbraith outlined that change was needed specifically relating to the unfairness of the current regime and that a more prescribed approach was required on areas like capital requirements and adequate resources.

He then turned to the need for change to the “totally flawed” structure of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and demanded that the new rules be in place by April 2012, in time for the next financial year.

Galbraith outlined the need for a model which separates the professional insurance broker from other sellers of general insurance and removes the cross-subsidy, and reminded members to sign the BIBA petition on this issue by the 20 May deadline. He also announced that BIBA had begun a series of meetings with insurers to seek a market solution to the handling of premiums. He said that protection of client money was one area that BIBA’s recent regulation research highlighted as a significant risk.

Galbraith told brokers: “We have detected an appetite amongst the insurers to help find a solution, where monies can be held on a risk-transferred basis, outside of FSA rules, giving insurers, the regulator and customers comfort about the protection of money.

“I would urge you all to get behind this move and support us in our efforts to try to achieve a secure and simpler solution to client money.”

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