§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will provide extra funds to all hospital trusts to cover the extra cost of recombinant factor 8 products, incurred as a result of the imposition of value added tax on these products. [3134]
(2) what measure he is taking to ensure that hospital trusts buy and continue to buy the new recombinant factor 8 products in the wake of the imposition of value added tax on these products. [3131]
§ Mr. HoramIt is for clinicians to decide what products are used in the light of available resources and the needs of individual patients. Factor 8 derived from human plasma is used for the majority of patients and is exempt from value added tax.
§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations has he made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding his decision to impose value added tax on recombinant factor 8 products. [3132]
§ Mr. HoramThe question of whether value added tax is chargeable on factor 8 products turns on whether they are derived from human blood. My Department has provided technical advice to HM Customs and Excise on that issue.