§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the organisations with which he is discussing his proposals for private medical insurance tax relief.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 17 February 1989]: Inland Revenue officials are holding detailed discussions on the relief with the Association of British Insurers, the British United Provident Association, Private Patients Plan, the Western Provident Association, the Bristol Contributory Welfare Association, the Exeter Hospital Aid Society and the Civil Service Medical Aid Association.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates on which his Department is meeting the private medical insurance industry to discuss tax reliefs for private medical insurance.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 17 February 1989]: A meeting took place on 9 February, and there will be further meetings as and when needed.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is considering making it possible to gain tax relief for private medical insurance by extending family medical insurance policies to cover elderly patients;
(2) if tax reliefs for nursing home care are to be included under pensioners' medical insurance tax relief proposals in his discussions with the private medical insurance industry;
(3) when he will publish the results of his discussions with the private medical insurance industry on tax reliefs for medical insurance for pensioners.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 17 February 1989]: The details will be published in the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the papers on which he is basing his discussions with private medical insurance companies on tax reliefs.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 17 February 1989]: No.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will invite representations from health councils, health boards and health authorities to join his discussions on private medical insurance tax reliefs.
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§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 17 February 1989]: If authorities wish to make representations to the Government on this subject I have no doubt that they will do so in the usual way.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has taken place into cost of private medical insurance tax reliefs.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 17 February 1989]: Estimates of the cost of tax relief for private medical insurance for the elderly are being derived using information from various sources, including providers of private medical insurance.