Amid concerns raised by medical community on the proposed service tax on healthcare, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said he would respond to the representations on tax issues next week.
Following the reply of Mukherjee on general discussion on the Budget, the Rajya Sabha on Monday returned the Appropriations Bills, completing the first phase of the three-stage exercise for passage of the Budget. The Lok Sabha had earlier approved the supplementary demands for grants for 2010-11 and relevant Appropriation Bills.
“That can be announced or decided only at the time of Finance Bill. Therefore, I will request those who are agitating to wait till the Finance Bill is being approved by Parliament,” he said, referring to his proposal to impose five per cent service tax on high-end health care. The Finance Bill is likely to be considered next week. The Budget Session of Parliament would conclude on March 25.