§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the costs of the business expansion scheme in 1983–84 and 1984–85, as a whole, and the costs of the subsidies for that part of the business expansion scheme relating to property development in 1983–84 and 1984–85;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the number of applications for tax relief under the business expansion scheme for schemes relating to property development in 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. MooreInformation about the business expansion scheme in 1983–84 is not yet complete, but the estimates published in the "Treasury Economic Progress Report", December 1984, indicated that at least £75 million was invested in over 300 companies. Of these, eight were property development companies who received a total of just over £1 million of investment. The direct revenue costs of tax relief are approximately 50 per cent. of the amounts invested. It is too early to provide estimates in respect of 1984–85.