HC Deb 14 July 1997 vol 298 cc78-9W
Mr. Colvin

To 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. Milburn

Any such estimate would be pure speculation. Most of the people who benefited from the tax relief were existing policy holders. It would be wrong 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because the relief which had not been available when they first opted for private health insurance was now being withdrawn.