Call for healthy living tax breaks
Updated on 15 September 2008
Healthy living should be rewarded through a series of tax breaks in a bid to save the NHS money in the long term, the Liberal Democrats said.
Local health boards would be given the power to reward people who sign up for gyms, quit smoking or attend medical check-ups.
The party argues that a "fundamental shift of power" is needed from Whitehall to the health authorities, giving them the financial freedom to offer the incentives.
Health spokesman Norman Lamb told the party conference in Bournemouth: "We'll give communities the power to raise a proportion of revenues locally.
"Then our health boards can innovate to enable and encourage local people to improve their health.
"Incentives could be offered to encourage employers to provide fitness facilities or gym membership to overweight people who can't afford the normal fees.
"Health boards could follow Nova Scotia's lead by offering a tax back payment for each child enrolled in sports or activity clubs. What better way to help prepare for 2012 and beyond?
"Or they could adapt a scheme from South Africa which offers incentives to adults who attend check-ups, nutrition assessments or preventive screening tests.
"Using locally raised resources, why shouldn't Health Boards create direct incentives - tax-back payments - particularly focusing on disadvantaged communities?
"For the same price as a packet of cigarettes people could get a weekly helping hand to improve their health."
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
