Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 November 2003. It was answered by Ruth Kelly (Labour) on Monday, 10 November 2003 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases were considered by the Insurance Ombudsman in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken was to consider cases; and the average cost per case. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases were considered by the Insurance Ombudsman in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken was to consider cases; and the average cost per case. [137198] Ruth Kelly: The Financial Ombudsman Service tell me that for the year ending 31 December 1999, the last year for which figures are recorded against it as a separate scheme, the Insurance Bureau received a total of 7,061 cases. The table shows a breakdown of the outcome of all cases resolved during the period: Breakdown of cases--year ended 31 December 1999 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Outcome of cases Percentage Resolved by mediation or conciliation 26 Resolved after investigation by an adjudicator 59 Of which: In favour of the consumer 31 In favour of the firm 69 Resolved by final decision of an ombudsman 15 Of which: In favour of the consumer 47 In favour of the firm 53 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The average time taken to resolve cases in the year ending 31 December 1999 was 140 days. The unit cost per case (calculated by dividing the total expenditure--less financing costs--by the number of cases closed) for the year ending 31 March 2000 was £730, the average unit cost per case across all of the predecessor schemes.

Secondary information