Regulations come into force on 21st August this year which will exempt from tax the cost of a welfare counselling service provided for employees.

The exemption was originally announced by Dawn Primarolo, the Paymaster General, in November 1999, saying that the government would be exempting the benefit to employees of a welfare counselling service which is available to employees of the employer generally. The move also followed discussions with employers' welfare representatives.

The exemption will not apply to the cost of private medical treatment or to advice on investment, tax, leisure and legal matters.