Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Friends, Families and Travellers They just refuse: Insurance companies failing to provide cover for Gypsy and Traveller site residents published on 26 May; and what steps are they taking to (1) address insurance access gaps for residents in Gypsy and Traveller sites through the Financial Inclusion Strategy,  and (2) engage with Gypsy and traveller communities to resolve issues relating to access to insurance.

The Government recognises the important role of insurance products in building financial resilience of consumers and giving households the ability to weather financial shocks.

This is why promoting financial resilience through insurance is a key focus in the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy was published last year and sets out a range of ambitious measures for industry and the Government to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This includes interventions to support the uptake of contents insurance among social renters, and better support individuals to find the right cover through signposting initiatives.

The Government engaged with a range of consumer representatives, including people with lived experience, throughout the development of the Strategy to ensure it is informed by a wide range of experience and perspectives. The Government is committed to continuing to engage closely with a range of organisations to ensure the Strategy represents a diverse range of consumer needs.

Individual insurers may take a different view of the relevant factors in determining whether they will offer insurance and at what price. Consumers may wish to contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), who can offer guidance on how to look across the insurance market for the best deals and may be able to provide names of specialist brokers.