NHS Pensions: Taxation Debate

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Department: HM Treasury
Monday 8th July 2019

(4 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I agree with my hon. Friend that we need a simpler tax system that has the right incentives throughout. It is a major task for the new Prime Minister to ensure that our tax system is simpler and has proper incentives. My hon. Friend can raise these issues during the consultation, but there is no doubt in my mind that the British tax system is too complex at present.

Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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I am taken aback by the Minister’s complacency. We all know that patients are suffering because of this policy. What can be done to ensure that doctors who want to do the right thing by taking extra work and doing extra shifts are not left out of pocket?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I disagree with the hon. Lady. We are taking steps to deal with this issue, and the Health Secretary is currently meeting representatives from the medical profession to discuss this in more detail. Wide-ranging reforms to the taxation and pension systems are not things to be wished overnight; they have to be properly worked through.