asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the levels of staffing and supervision activity within his Department in relation to (a) insurance matters and (b) consumer affairs, for each year from 1984 to 1987 inclusive.
Written Answers. - Departmental Staffing and Supervision.
59.
A. Insurance
|
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
|
|
Levels of staffing: |
19 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
|
Number of undertakings being supervised: |
||||
|
Non-Life |
41 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
|
Life |
24 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
|
Total |
65 |
66 |
67 |
69 |
Insurance supervision involves the ongoing examination of solvency of all undertakings to ensure that the interests of policyholders are fully protected.
The supervisory process also includes the authorisation of new insurance undertakings, the revocation of existing insurance licences, where this is required, the examination of transfers of business between authorised undertakings and the extension of existing licences to cover additional or new classes of business.
B. Consumer Affairs
|
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
|
|
Levels of staffing: |
34 |
34 |
40 |
43 |
These figures include staff in the consumer protection branch of the Department, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the Office of Weights and Measures.
Supervision involves enforcement of consumer protection legislation, and includes regular inspections at different levels of distribution to ensure compliance with legislative provisions, occasional surveys to determine the overall level of compliance, and the investigation of complaints about alleged breaches of legislation.