News

1st April 2004

Car insurance to rocket up for women

John Bowis and Theresa Villiers - Conservative Members of the European Parliament for London - today warned that car insurance for women could rise by up to five hundred pounds following a recent vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. John Bowis, Theresa Villiers and their fellow Conservative MEPs voted against the plans.

John Bowis, Conservative Spokesmen for Consumer Protection who previously worked with the British Insurance Brokers Association, said, "Proposals to ensure equal treatment for men and women in the supply of goods and services mean that women in London, who benefit from lower car insurance because they tend to drive more safely, will no longer receive such deals. The Association of British Insurers has said that the plans could put women's premiums up by as much as £500. Insurance premiums are based on the actuarial assessment of risk. If that assessment shows women to be a lower risk, it is right that they should benefit from lower premiums. Paradoxically, in this case, political correctness is discriminating against women in London."

Theresa Villiers added, "If this law goes through, women will have to pay more for car insurance. Unfair discrimination is obviously unacceptable, but this is completely over the top and unnecessary. Car insurance is offered on the basis of risk and women are statistically proven to be safer drivers. It is completely unfair if insurers are not allowed to take that proven fact into consideration in setting insurance premiums. Now women will be forced to pay more for car insurance just because someone in Brussels has decided they should."