§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing for each year since 1978 and his forecast for 1988 (a) the number of wives electing to have their earnings taxed separately (b) the number paying higher rate tax on their earnings and from 1985 only (c) the number under (a) and (b) with (i) investment income aggregated with their husband's income for tax purposes or (ii) claiming mortgage interest relief; and if he will add figures showing the cost to the revenue in the cases requested together with the average amount of investment income and the average mortgage on which relief is claimed.
Table 2: Wives with wife"s earnings election Number ("000) Wives with Investment Income ("000) Average amount of wife"s Investment Income (£ p.a.) Married couples with mortgage interest relief ("000) Average Amount of mortgage interest relief (£ p.a.) 1985–86 180 130 1,200 120 2,300 1986–87 210 150 1,200 150 2,200 1987–88 280 210 1,100 200 2,100 1988–89 300 230 1,100 220 2,300
Table 3: All Wives whose earnings are liable to higher rate tax1 Number ("000) Wives with Investment Income ("000) Average amount of wife"s Investment Income (£ p.a.) Married couples with mortgage interest relief ("000) Average Amount of mortgage interest relief (£ p.a.) 1985–86 280 200 700 190 2,000 1986–87 290 220 700 210 1,900 1987–88 300 210 700 220 1,900 1988–89 310 210 900 220 2,400 1 Wives with and without a wife's earnings election as appropriate.