Briefly noted

• Up to half of UK brokers are running the risk of missing compliance deadlines when the industry falls under the auspices of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), according to Beachcroft Wansbroughs Consulting. General insurers are a long way off completing preparations for January 2005, the company said, and warned insurance brokers to apply before the end of 2004 or face larger fees and the possibility of late registration.