Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the size of the health insurance market on the NHS.

The government publishes assessments of all tax changes at fiscal events. This includes examining the economic and business impacts. The assessment for the last change in Insurance Premium Tax (announced at Autumn Statement 2016) can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insurance-premium-tax-increase-of-standard-rate/insurance-premium-tax-increase-of-standard-rate

These costings are certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The government keeps all taxes under review and remains in regular discussion with the insurance industry and other interested parties, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), on the provision of insurance in the UK.

The government does not have a view on the impact of the size of the health insurance market on the NHS.