What is the relationship between the two speakers?

W: Why do you think 1981 was a bad year for the insurance companies in the UK?
M: For a start, the bad winter weather cost them ￡200 million. This was above the usual amount paid out for weather damage.
W: What kind of damage are we talking about here?
M: Mostly damage caused by floods to private houses.
W: I see, 1981 was really a bad year for the insurance industry.
M: In the UK, the income from motor insurance increased by only 8.5 percent. Here again, competition has forced the companies to keep the rates down and we’ve had very few rate rises so far this year.
W: What about the total number of insurance claims in 1981?
M: Well, they stayed at the 1980 level but the average cost of each was 10 percent higher.
W: What sort of claims tend to be made? You know, the most common claim.
M: Things like household theft rose in 1981 by an amazing 40 percent The total paid out was nearly ￡106 million. Losses on the fire and accident business were huge, too. In 1980 the loss was ￡7.8 million but this rose to ￡39.7 million in 1981.
W: Thanks for your time...
M: You’re welcome.