The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for the current exemption granted to the insurance industry on sexual orientation discrimination to be abolished.

The ABI says that "insurance companies see no need and do not wish to differentiate for insurance purposes between customers in civil partnerships and married couples". It says that this proposal will form a part of its "detailed response" to the government's current consultation on its Discrimination Law Review.

"The insurance industry is united against discrimination and in support of treating people fairly," Nick Starling, the ABI's director of general insurance and health, said.

"Insurers base their treatment of all customers on a fair and objective analysis of the risks they represent. It is sensible to differentiate, for instance, in the case of age or gender.

"But we do not seek exemptions where there is no case for one; there is no need for the law to provide for different treatment between Civil Partnerships and marriages."

The move was welcomed by homosexual lobby group Stonewall, with Alan Wardle, its director of public affairs, saying that "insurance premiums should be based on someone's behaviour rather than their sexual orientation".

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