ANDREW Dickson, the managing director of Bolton travel group St Andrew's Travel, says he has welcomed the decision by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown to scrap the two-tier level of insurance premium tax and create a level playing field.

This fight appears to have been won by the travel agents although, says Mr Dickson, four per cent would have been preferable to the 17.5 per cent.

Mr Dickson says the most obvious threat to insurance sales in the travel sector was not only from insurance brokers, but also non-travel retailers, the most recent being Boots the Chemist.

He said: "Travel agents are selling all types of policies - travel, motoring, ski - and an increasing number of annual policies for frequent travellers.

"They come into their own by being at the point of sale when the holiday is booked and are able to match the exact insurance to the holiday."

He added: "If there's a claim, we can offer comfort and support and we can help with the correct completion of claims forms."

Mr Dickson went on: "Wherever you go in the world, you must always take out a comprehensive insurance policy. Don't leave home without one."

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