FSB calls on home secretary to help riot-affected SMEs

Small business group the National Federation of Small Business implored home secretary Yvette Cooper to help facilitate fair treatment of small and medium-sized enterprises by the insurance industry in the wake of rioting that has swept Britain in the last ten days.

According to Sky News, the FSB also sought coordinated efforts from Westminster, police and crime commissioners to communicate how uninsured small companies can claim for lost earnings under the Riot Compensation Act.

"We will be looking for government support to ensure insurance companies treat small business claims with care and attention, and process them swiftly," said FSB chairman Martin McTague. "However, if post-riot support is not activated and small firms are not signposted, many without insurance could be left without any compensation to restart their business."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com