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Friends Provident has linked up with insurance information providers MorganAsh to run a tele-interviewing service for income protection applications.

The insurer said the aim was to speed up applications, reducing the need for GP reports, and cutting the incidence of non-disclosure.

It said the process would also reduce the need for signed statements and lead to more informed underwriting decisions.

Interviews will be undertaken by qualified and experienced nurses, at a time and place to suit the consumer. If requested by Friends Provident, they will contact the applicant and ask them a number of questions, focusing mainly on medical history.

They will also be able to ask more detailed questions on specific disclosures. Clients will then receive a transcript of the interview.

Tele-interviewing will be used for benefit levels from £100 to £800 a week, depending on the customer's age and occupation.

Mark Jones, protection products and actuarial manager of Friends Provident, said: "For income protection products, this seems the logical way for the industry to go.

"Tele-interviewing can give a turnaround time of as little as one day, compared with a GP report, which can take weeks. It also reduces the opportunity for accidental non-disclosure."

Laurie Cunningham, partner of Edinburgh-based IFA Orchard Independent, said: "It is absolutely superb that Friends Provident is doing this. Whereas advisers do not really have access to medical knowledge, the insurer can speak to the client, nurse them through what is required and get full knowledge from them. And this procedure also helps to bypass non-disclosure."

Mr Cunningham said the processing of applications could sometimes take a long time.

He said: "Specific details, such as whether a parent had a heart attack before or after the age of 40, can make a big difference.