Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Bill [Lords]

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Tuesday 6th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

In this Bill, has consideration been given to the differentials in prices across the United Kingdom? Northern Ireland has the highest insurance premiums in the entire United Kingdom. Is it not time to have the same competition in Northern Ireland—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. We are now on Third Reading, and questions must be relevant to that stage.

[Chris Leslie]

That was an important point, however. There are regional disparities in consumer insurance. We tried, through an amendment, to—

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman is an experienced Member and he should know that on Third Reading we cannot discuss what was not in the Bill. We must make progress.

[Chris Leslie]

Your strictures are very firm, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I would not in any way want to stray out of order. Suffice it to say that this Bill will, I hope, help all parts of the country, especially the regions where we need to ensure that insurance standards rise.

It is a shame that the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) is no longer in the Chamber. We were talking about pet insurance, and I did not realise that he owned a llama. Perhaps he has gone to groom his llama.

This has been an important debate, and I am grateful to all Members who have contributed. Although we must keep an eye on the impact of its measures, we support the Bill.

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

I hope we will have no further mention of the llama of the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant).