§ LORD CRAWSHAWasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will estimate the number of rented dwellings in the year 1972–73; the average rent per dwelling; and the cost to the Exchequer if the tenants in those dwellings had been able to claim, and had so claimed, tax relief in the same way as owner-occupiers claimed tax relief in respect of mortgages.
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDEORD)It is estimated there are, in Great Britain, some 8¼ million tenants in unfurnished accommodation for which the average weekly rent in 1972–73 will be about £2.60. If tenants could either claim their full rent for tax relief at the standard rate applied to earned income or receive a subsidy equivalent to that on option mortgages, the gross cost would be in the region of £350 million for the year; this would be increased by the relief of tax on unearned income and of surtax. There would be offsetting reductions in supplementary benefits, rent rebates, and rent allowances.