HC Deb 25 January 1972 vol 829 cc1184-5
12. Mr. Gurden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study has been made into the nett saving to the Treasury if individuals were allowed income tax deduction for payments on private health service through approved societies.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Proposals for saving in Government spending are constantly under review.

Mr. Gurden

Does my hon. Friend agree that we should encourage the saving of expense to the Exchequer and lessen the load on the Health Service by this method and save people having to pay twice for the same service?

Mr. Jenkin

I must beg to doubt my hon. Friend's suggestion on this matter. No evidence has been presented to us that there would be any significant saving in the cost to the Health Service if his suggestion were approved, and our own studies do not establish that there would be such a saving.

Mr. Lipton

Is the Minister aware that some of us have lost count of the number of things that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has under review? Will he publish the relevant statistics on this matter when he next publishes statistics?

Mr. Jenkin

I can only suggest that the hon. Gentleman has chosen the wrong Question on which to put that supplementary, because it did not arise from anything I said.