LETTER: IVF: still free

From Mrs Margaret Beckett, MP

Sir: I was surprised as well as sorry to read the suggestion (18 April) that the Labour Party proposed that "in vitro fertilisation will no longer be available free on the NHS".

No such proposals have been discussed, either by the leader or by me, and, as a prompt response issued by the leader's office made plain, if such a suggestion had been made, or were to be made, it would be rejected.

The suggestion which was made to you and repeated in your pages is without foundation, as is the suggestion that there has been a change of policy on prescription charges.

Yours faithfully,

MARGARET BECKETT

House of Commons

London, SW1

The writer is the Shadow Secretary of State for Health.