TECHNICAL ACCOUNT Notes Continuing
operations
£m
Discontinued
operations
£m
2002
Total
£m
2001
Total
£m
Gross premiums written 712.8 4.3 717.1 587.4
Outward reinsurance premiums (142.9 ) (1.2 ) (144.1 ) (100.9 )
Net premiums written 569.9 3.1 573.0 486.5
Change in the provision for unearned premiums:
– gross amount (99.9 ) (99.9 ) (147.6 )
– reinsurers’ share 21.0 21.0 4.0
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance 491.0 3.1 494.1 342.9
Allocated investment return transferred from the non-technical account 5 30.1 1.0 31.1 27.9
Claims paid:
– gross amount (336.0 ) (12.6 ) (348.6 ) (293.2 )
– reinsurers’ share 94.9 6.8 101.7 71.5
Claims paid, net of reinsurance (241.1 ) (5.8 ) (246.9 ) (221.7 )
Change in the provision for claims:
– gross amount (3.8 ) 11.6 7.8 (386.0 )
– reinsurers’ share (59.5 ) (9.9 ) (69.4 ) 295.4
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance (304.4 ) (4.1 ) (308.5 ) (312.3 )
Net operating expenses 7 (154.6 ) (4.0 ) (158.6 ) (114.5 )
Balance on the technical account for general business 62.1 (4.0 ) 58.1 (56.0 )
 
NON–TECHNICAL ACCOUNT
Balance on the technical account for general business 62.1 (4.0 ) 58.1 (56.0 )
Investment income 5 39.5 1.0 40.5 11.7
Unrealised gains (losses) on investments 5 3.2 3.2 (2.2 )
Investment expenses and charges 5 (1.2 ) (1.2 ) (1.1 )
Allocated investment return transferred to the technical account 5 (30.1 ) (1.0 ) (31.1 ) (27.9 )
73.5 (4.0 ) 69.5 (75.5 )
Other income 8 2.0 2.0 1.5
Other charges 9 (16.1 ) (16.1 ) (7.5 )
Operating profit (loss) 59.4 (4.0 ) 55.4 (81.5 )
Comprising:
Operating profit (loss) based on longer term investment return 49.6 (4.0 ) 45.6 (61.7 )
Short term fluctuations in investment return 9.8 9.8 (19.8 )
Profit (loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 13 59.4 (4.0 ) 55.4 (81.5 )
Taxation on profit (loss) on ordinary activities 14 (11.2 ) 14.5
Profit (loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 44.2 (67.0 )
Equity dividends 15 (7.6 )
Retained profit (loss) for the financial year 24 36.6 (67.0 )
Earnings per ordinary share 16
Basic 14.1p (33.3p )
Diluted 14.1p (33.3p )
 
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
There were no recognised gains or losses in the current or preceding year other than those included in the profit and loss account and therefore no statement of total recognised gains and losses has been presented.