To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the regulation of the private health insurance sector. [8180]

The private health insurance sector is regulated through a combination of statutory legislation and industry best practice. Underwrites of health insurance are subject to prudential supervision under the Insurance Companies Act 1982; insurance intermediaries active in this field are subject to regulation under the Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977 or industry-regulation under the Association of British Insurers general business code of practice. The Government continue to keep this under review.