§ 17. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek powers to limit claims for income tax relief on mortgage interest to the principal residence of the applicant.
§ Mr. HigginsNo, Sir.
§ Mr. JenkinsAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the Question asks whether the Chancellor will limit relief on mortgage interest to the principal residence of an applicant. As the Government are cutting housing subsidies, will they not be equally keen to investigate whether the intentions of Parliament are being unreasonably exploited in this direction too? If, as I suspect, a large number of mortgagors are receiving tax relief on more than one house, would it not at least be worthwhile investigating the situation and then telling us what the position is?
§ Mr. HigginsI had read the hon. Gentleman's Question and would stress that this was a point discussed at considerable length on 23rd November at Question Time when my hon. Friends the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary dealt with this on the grounds that comparisons of this sort were not applicable.