UK Parliament clears new health and social care tax

British Parliament has approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson-led government's new tax plan to fund its National Health Service (NHS) and social care services. The House of Commons voted by 319 to 248 on Wednesday evening to back the proposed Health and Social Care Levy, a new 1.25 per cent tax on workers and employers across the country, to be effective from April 2022. The dividend rates for companies will also go up by the same amount to cover what Johnson described as "biggest catch-up programme" for the statefunded NHS in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.