§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost to the Exchequer of subsidies granted under the mortgage option scheme in each of the past four years, with an estimate of the probable cost in the current year; and what proportion, in each instance, is attributable to Scotland.
§ Mr. ChannonThe amounts of option mortgage subsidy in Great Britain were:
£ 1969–70 … … … 9,240,020 1970–71 … … … 13,025,966 1971–72 … … … 17,773,598 1972–73 … … … 27,973,130 The estimate for 1973–74 is £39 million. It is not possible to say how much of the subsidy is attributable to borrowers in Scotland because subsidy is paid to lenders in respect of their lending throughout Great Britain.