ONE YEAR on from the launch of its Pet Insurance Charter, the pet insurer Sainsbury's Bank claims that the quality of cover across the UK pet insurance sector has fallen.

The bank claims that just 6% of pet insurance policies meet its Pet Insurance Charter, (an outline of what it believes should be minimum levels of cover for cats and dogs). The corresponding figure in 2005 was 12%.

Sainsbury's latest survey suggests that more than a third of pet insurance policies do not cover veterinary fees in excess of £3,500 and around half do not include treatment for long-term conditions.