§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) loans and (b) grants have been made under the house purchase assistance scheme during each financial year since its introduction; and what has been the annual cost of the scheme to public funds.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department records only the totals paid, not the number of bonuses and grants. Since loans are fixed at £600, the number can be calculated from the total of payments. Bonuses, however, vary in amount between £40 and £110, and such a calculation is therefore not possible. Details are as follows:
Financial Year Loan Payments £ million Bonus Payments £ million Estimated number of loans *Net cost £ million 1980–81 0.36 0.06 602 0.42 1981–82 3.33 0.54 5,545 3.84 1982–83 3.77 0.59 6,277 4.24 1983–84 2.54 0.41 4,240 2.48 1984–85 2.15 0.35 3,580 1.61 †1985–86 0.57 0.10 950 0.28 * Total payments less repayments of loans and interest on late repayments. † To September 1985.