§ Mr. MooreTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of mortgage interest relief at source in Scotland for (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97; and what is his provisional estimate for MIRAS in Scotland for 1997–98. [24393]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe cost of mortgage interest relief in Scotland was estimated to be £200 million in 1995–96 and £180 million in 1996–97. The amount of relief given through MIRAS—mortgage interest relief at source scheme—was estimated to be £190 million in 1995–96 and £170 million in 1996–97.
These estimates are based on the regional distribution of the cost of mortgage interest relief from analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1995–96. The estimates for 1996–97 are projections based on applying the same regional distribution as in 1995–96 to the total figure for 1996–97. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below United Kingdom level for 1997–98.