asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to extend value added tax to private treatment on the National Health Service.

No. It remains Government policy that all hospital treatment and medical treatment by registered practitioners, whether provided within the National Health Service or outside it, shall be exempt from value added tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value added tax income from (a) medical insurance premiums, (b) private hospital charges and (c) consultants' fees in each year since 1979–80.

These items are exempt from value added tax.