§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current estimated cost to his Department in 1990–91 of tax relief on private medical insurance; how many people benefit; and what proportion of these are estimated already to have private medical insurance.
§ Mr. RyderTax relief on private medical insurance for the over-60s is estimated to cost about £40 million in 1990–91. This estimate is based on the assumption that about 600,000 individuals with 330,000 policies will benefit. It is also assumed that about 90 per cent. of these initial beneficiaries already have private medical insurance.