Expert claims win for common sense over bureaucracy
The implementation of the EU equal treatment directive has been delayed, according to a Government spokesperson.
Victoria Francis, press secretary to Harriet Harman at the Department of Work and Pensions, said the implementation of the directive had been postponed until this month despite its original date being 21 December. She was not able to confirm reasons behind the decision.
Erfan Hussain, press officer at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said there was a chance the directive could prohibit insurers from using gender when setting premiums. "However, the good news for insurers and consumers is that they will still be allowed to use such data as long as it is published," he said. This will allow accurate risk-based pricing.
David Brunning, director at Brunning Newman Houghton, said: "This amendment is a rare victory for common sense over EU bureaucracy and political correctness. We won't have the ridiculous situation of women subsidising men's pensions and life assurance, while men subsidise women's income protection policies. Both genders win."
Dale Tranter, research product developer at Sesame, said the decision made sense and that it was best to "leave us well alone". He added that, had unisex rates been forced on the industry, he was certain providers would no doubt have found ways around it.
Richard Walsh, managing director at SPPR Consulting, said he hoped the delay did not indicate some sort of difficulty because the ABI and the Treasury had been working on drawing tables to ensure firms published their gender data.
