HC Deb 13 February 1989 vol 147 cc76-8W
Mr. Sillars

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the total value of mortgage tax relief by planning region in each of the past 10 years.

Cost of mortgage interest relief (£ million)
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83
Northern 60 80 70 95
Yorkshire and Humberside 110 155 150 160
North West 135 200 180 215
East Midlands 85 115 110 130
West Midlands 145 160 190 170
East Anglia 45 50 60 75
Greater London 235 280 290 260
Other South East 375 555 600 650
South West 110 140 170 140
Wales 45 65 80 80
Scotland 85 125 120 140
Northern Ireland 20 35 30 30
United Kingdom 1,450 1,960 2,050 2,150

Following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, regional information on the cost of mortgage interest relief cannot be extracted from Inland Revenue records. The regional distribution of mortgage interest can be estimated from the family expenditure survey (FES) but, as the sample size for the FES is relatively small, it is not possible to provide robust estimates of regional trends for the period after 1982–83. Accordingly, the following tables show the cost of mortgage interest relief in the United Kingdom from 1983–84 to 1988–89 with the percentage distribution of the relief by region, based on FES data from 1984 to 1986.

Cost of mortgage interest relief
(£ million)
1984–85 3,580
1985–86 4,750
1986–87 4,670
1987–88 14,800
1988–89 15,500
1 Provisional.

Regional share of mortgage interest relief based on FES data for 1984 to 1986
per cent.
Northern 3.8
Yorkshire and Humberside 7.2
North West 9.3
East Midlands 6.3
West Midlands 7.8
East Anglia 3.5
Greater London 14.1
Other South East 26.6
South West 8.5
Wales 4.2
Scotland 7.4
Northern Ireland 1.3
United Kingdom 100.0

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the additional annual cost to the Exchequer in tax relief on mortgage interest payments of every 1 per cent. rise in mortgage interest rates.

Mr. Norman Lamont

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 12 December 1988 at column426.

Mr. Norman Lamont

Estimates for the years 1979–80 to 1982–83 have been derived from the results of the survey of personal incomes and are given in the table.

Mr. Soley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the saving to the Exchequer of paying mortgage income tax relief at the standard rate of tax only.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The direct Revenue yield in a full year, at 1988–89 income levels, from restricting mortgage interest relief to the basic rate is estimated to be £330 million. No allowance has been made for the effect of any consequential changes to the distribution of outstanding mortgages.

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