Health Secretary Sajid Javid tonight ruled out any delay to the April tax grab for the NHS, despite growing calls to delay the controversial rise.
Mr Javid insisted the national insurance hike — which will strip the average family of £600 a year — was not 'under threat'.
He re-iterated his support for the increase, which will bring in an extra £12billion for the NHS and social care.
Mr Javid told the Commons' Health and Social Care Committee the extra funds were 'important' to help hospitals clear waiting lists, which have spiralled to record highs because of Covid.
The Government is being urged to rethink the proposed 1.25 per cent rise, which is due in April when households face a perfect storm of rising energy bills, council tax and inflation.
A string of senior Tory MPs, business leaders and economists want Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s plan scrapped.
Yesterday, former Brexit chief Lord Frost weighed into the argument, claiming that the Government should abandon the plan because it was 'not needed'.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured today speaking at the Commons' Health and Social Care Committee) said the April tax hike was 'secure'
Data released by NHS England shows a record 5.98million people were waiting for routine surgery in October, up from 5.83million the month before
At the committee hearing today, chair and former Tory party leader hopeful Jeremy Hunt asked Mr Javid whether he still supported the tax rise.
He responded saying: 'Yes, I do.
'It's very important we make sure we've got the long term funding in place for the NHS and for social care. The levy is about that long-term funding.'
He was also asked whether the tax hike in April was 'under threat'. But the Health Secretary dismissed the possibility, and said the extra cash was 'secure'.
The national insurance increase, which was announced last autumn, will raise £12billion to £13billion a year for the Treasury.
It was intended to help fund health and social care, but most of the money for the first three years will go toward clearing the post-Covid NHS backlog.
The national insurance rise will cost a worker on a
