§ LORD AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will estimate the amount of tax that will be saved through relief on mortgage interest by owner-occupiers in the year 1972–73 ; to how many dwellings this figure relates, and what is the average saving per dwelling ; and how many of the dwellings are second homes.
EARL JELLICOEThe latest available figures are for the year 1971–72. Provisional figures for that year indicate that the aggregate tax relief on mortgage interest paid by owner-occupiers of residential property was of the order of £340 million in respect of some 5 million residences, giving an average of about £70. There is no information as to the number of residences occupied by each claimant.
House adjourned at five minutes before ten o'clock.