§ Miss Richardsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to his reply, Official Report, 2 November, c. 693–4, he will state how much of the cost of the tax reliefs listed was attributable to higher rate taxpayers.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI regret that the available information for earlier years relates only to life assurance relief. The estimates are as follows:—
Estimated relief attributable to higher rate taxpayers £ million 1973–74 … … … 20 1974–75 … … … 30 1975–76 … … … 50 1976–77 … … … 60 1977–78 … … … 50 1978–79 … … … 50 A precise calculation of the amount of mortgage interest relief relating to higher rate taxpayers is not available for the years prior to 1978–79. For both 1978–79 and 1979–80 it is estimated to be approximately 20 per cent. of the total. The estimated proportion of the cost of retirement annuity relief relating to higher rate taxpayers for 1979–80 is about 70 per cent. These figures relate to the total relief to higher rate taxpayers and not to the excess over relief at the basic rate. No part of the cost of age allowance relates to higher rate taxpayers. I regret that estimates are not available relating to higher rate taxpayers in respect of contributions to approved pension schemes.