§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the impact on NHS waiting lists of the abolition of tax relief on private health insurance for the elderly; and if he will make a statement. [8533]
§ Mr. MilburnAny such estimate would be pure speculation. Most of the people who benefited from the tax relief were existing policy holders. It would be wrong 79W to assume that they will turn to the National Health Service in large numbers for treatment because the relief which had not been available when they first opted for private health insurance was now being withdrawn.