§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing for those with and those without investment income in 1986–87 the numbers in each income band up to a lower limit of £100,000 benefiting from mortgage interest relief divided as between single persons and one and two-earner married couples; and if he will provide an estimate for 1987–88;
(2) whether he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the estimated number of tax units under age 65 years in each income band up to a lower limit of £100,000 in receipt of mortgage interest relief in the current financial year and the percentage with investment income; and if he will also distinguish between single persons, one-earner and two-earner married couples.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 27 July 1988]: The available information is in the tables. Following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, it is no longer possible to estimate the distribution of mortgage interest relief from Inland Revenue records. The estimates in the table are based on projections of data from the family expenditure survey but, as the sample size for the FES is relatively small, it is not possible to provide reliable estimates in all the detail requested nor to provide separate figures for non-aged tax units. Estimates are subject to revision.
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Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1986–87 Thousands Range of total income With no investment income With investment income Total Up to £5,000 340 410 750 £5,000 to £10,000 570 1,330 1,900 £10,000 to £15,000 560 1,970 2,530 £15,000 to £20,000 260 1,360 1,620 £20,000 to £30,000 100 900 1,000 £30,000 plus 20 380 400 Total 1,850 6,350 8,200 1 Single people and married couples.
Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1987–88 Thousands Range of total income With no investment income With investment income Total Up to £5,000 330 390 720 £5,000 to £10,000 470 1,150 1,620 £10,000 to £15,000 600 1,900 2,500 £15,000 to £20,000 300 1,470 1,770 £20,000 to £30,000 130 1,140 1,270 £30,000 plus 20 500 520 Total 1,850 6,550 8,400 1 Single people and married couples.
Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1988–89 Range of total income Number (thousands) Percentage with investment income Up to £5,000 690 54 £5,000 to £10,000 1,300 70 £10,000 to £15,000 2,440 77 £15,000 to £20,000 1,890 83 £20,000 to £30,000 1,580 89 £30,000 plus 700 93 Total 8,600 79 1 Single people and married couples.