§ Mr. Newtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will update, on the basis of his revenue estimates for 1978–79, the figures for cost of income tax reliefs provided to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Silvester), Written Answer, Official Report, 2nd March 1977, column 83.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th July 1978], gave the following answer:
The available information at 1978–79 rates of tax and levels of income is as follows:
Cost of Relief £ million Single allowance 3,100 Married allowance 6,500 Age allowance 230 Child allowance 500 Additional personal allowance 55 Wife's earnings allowance 1,775 Life insurance relief 230 Retirement annuity relief 70 The estimates are calculated by reference to each individual relief, on the basis that other reliefs are continued; they cannot therefore be totalled to give an aggregate cost for all the reliefs listed. I regret that the information upon which to base an estimate of mortgage interest relief is not presently available but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this is known.