PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT

We contribute to public policy debate on issues relevant to our business in countries where we operate, either individually or through industry bodies such as the Association of British Insurers and the Confederation of British Industry.

We work with policy makers to improve understanding and preserve the role the insurance industry plays in society and the economy. In all instances we operate in compliance with local laws and our Public Affairs Policy. We do not make political contributions and we receive no forms of financial assistance from government.

Public Affairs Policy

Our public affairs policy contains the following principles:

• We are transparent and truthful in our dealings with politicians and representatives of public bodies.
• We will not engage in any activity that is illegal, unethical or contrary to professional practice.
• We do not offer any financial incentives to elected or appointed officials.
• We are open in declaring our commercial interests when dealing with government and politicians.

Our main contributions to public policy debate in 2010 were: 

• Working through our partnership with WWF to encourage action by international policymakers on climate related risks. Our first briefing highlighted the risks facing marine environments from increasing commercial pressures. We discussed sustainable fishing with policymakers in Canada and called on Baltic Sea governments and businesses to support an integrated sea use management model to manage conflicting demands on Baltic Sea resources;
• In Brussels, we highlighted the risks in proposals to stop insurers using gender as a criteria for assessing risk in motor policies;
• RSA hosted a meeting with the UK Government Climate Change Adaptation Minister and business leaders on the implications of adaptation to climate change. 
• We continue to lobby the UK Government for adequate spending on flood defences, changes to planning regulations to reduce building on flood prone areas and changes in building regulations; and
• In partnership with WWF we are working to encourage planners and local and national government to support sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) as part of a cost-effective, integrated approach to flood and waste water management. We produced a report, launched early in 2011 at the House of Commons, highlighting the risks and practical solutions. In Copenhagen, we engaged the local government on protection from floods.