Miliband calls on the insurance industry to pay out within weeks and get people back in their homes more quickly

Ed Miliband today visited flood-affected Somerset. Following the visit he called on the Government and the insurance industry to agree new industry standards to guarantee that:

1) insurance payments are paid within weeks of people submitting claims; and

2) the maximum time that people have to wait to get claims completed and get back in their homes is significantly reduced.

Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“I have seen today communities pulling together to deal with the destruction and devastation caused by the floods. We must ensure they get all the support they need to rebuild their lives. 

“Thousands of families have been forced to abandon their homes and are now living with friends, family or in hotels. And what these families want to know is that they don’t have to wait for months on end to receive insurance pay-outs or wait over a year to get back in their homes.

“Of course it takes time to repair homes damaged by flooding, but 12 months to complete an insurance claim is far too long. The Government must sit down with insurers and agree a new industry standard that significantly reduces the time that people have to wait to have their houses restored and move back home.”