Treasury officials have met with tax experts to discuss the wisdom of such a move, which could feature in Gordon Brown's Pre-Budget Report on December 2, The Times newspaper has reported.

Currently, investors pay capital gains according to their highest rate of income tax, but they could be some tax relief under the proposals being considered by Number 11.

This could include reducing the amount of time an individual gets substantial tax relief on an investment. Currently, they have to wait 10 years or more before receiving 40% off of their capital gains tax liability.