§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the total expenditure on option mortgages for each year since 1960 (a) in 1975 prices and (b) as a percentage of gross national product.
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§ Mr. ArmstrongThe option mortgage scheme did not operate before 1968. It does not extend to homes in Northern Ireland. The figure asked for, calculated on the basis of subsidy payments made in Great Britain for each of the financial years since 1968–69, are as follows:
Financial Year (a) Option Mortgage Subsidy Payments (G.B.) at 1975 Survey Prices £m. (b) Option Mortgage Subsidy Payments as percentage of GNP(U.K.) at factor cost* 1968–69 13.7 0.02 1969–70 17.6 0.02 1970–71 23.4 0.03 1971–72 29.6 0.03 1972–73 43.6 0.05 1973–74 71.6 0.08 1974–75 88.3 0.09 * As defined in National Income and Expenditure (HMSO, 1974).