§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many married couples claim the maximum amount of mortgage tax relief; and what proportion this is of all married couples.
§ Mr. Lawson[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1985, c. 529]: It is estimated that about 425,000 married couples claim mortgage interest relief in respect of the qualifying portion of a mortgage loan of £30,000 or more. These are just under 4 per cent. of the total of tax-paying married couples.