NHS tax OK – but not in Tory hands

I THINK it’s a good idea to have the NHS and social care budgets funded by a stand-alone tax to be increased at an agreed rate annually, independent of the rest of the Exchequer.

I think most people would support this – but why can’t the same logic be applied to other areas, such as road tax, because only part of the amount raised goes towards road maintenance?

At present the Government just appears to lump funds from all taxes, including National Insurance, into one big pot which they spend as they see fit, irrespective of what each tax is supposed to be for.

A defined tax for the NHS and social care at least guarantees funding would be ringfenced. Terry Marriott Waterlooville, Hants

I am in favour of raising more money for the NHS, but I do not trust this Tory Government to use it properly. I think they will channel the extra funds to their donors via private healthcare contracts. H Baker, Reading, Berks The NHS is in financial crisis, so the experts roll out the usual solution, a tax increase to provide the funds needed. Nonsense. We’ve had eight years of Tory austerity with people on low incomes having little or no pay increase, yet we are expected to pay more. The Government has continually cut vital services, while giving tax breaks to the very wealthiest and allowing corporations to avoid paying their fair share. This is not to mention billions from the magic money tree being spent on a new nuclear deterrent or the £375bn raised by the Bank of England for quantitative easing. Allan Williams, East London

With all the discussion about NHS funding, why do we get free prescriptions from the age of 60, as people are now working beyond 66? Surely changing this would save the NHS some money? My wife and I, both over 60, give the money we save on prescriptions to charity. Steve Lake, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Here we go again – blame the pensioners when it’s suggested taxes must rise to pay for the NHS because of the ageing population. Why do they not turn their attention to the people who fail to regulate their alcohol intake, smoke or who have a poor diet. We have no choice over ageing, but people do have a choice over how they treat their bodies. It’s time the over-65s stopped being seen as a burden on the NHS. Ross Tomlinson, Nottingham The claim that we need a £2,000 per household tax hike to support the NHS may be true but the question is, should we pay? Taxpayers’ money must not be used to increase shareholder dividends of the privatised parts of the NHS brought in by this Tory Government. John Shale, Wigan One way to increase funding for the NHS would be to ensure that everyone pays NI according to their earnings. At present, low earners spend a greater percentage of their income on NI than high earners. Once again the rich prosper. Tim Nobes, Kendal, Cumbria