§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing(a) the total cost of mortgage interest tax relief in 1990–91, (b) the average value of relief per mortgagor and (c) the numbers receiving mortgage relief, broken down in the income ranges: under £4,000, £4,000 to £5,000, £5,000 to £6,000, £6,000 to £7,000, £7,000 to £8,000, £8,000 to £9,000, £9,000 to £10,000, £10,000 to £12,000, £12,000 to £15,000, £15,000 to £20,000, £20,000 to £25,000, £25,000 to £30,000 and over £30,000.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 30 March 1990]: Estimates for 1990–91 are not yet available. Estimates for 1989–90 were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 19 February, Official Report, column 519.
§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of higher rate tax relief on mortgage interest in the year 1990–91; and what is(a) the likely number of beneficiaries and (b) the average size of the mortgage involved.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 30 March 1990]: Estimates for 1990–91 are not available. In 1989–90, the estimated cost of relief at excess over the basic rate of income tax is £430 million. About 700,000 mortgagors are beneficiaries and their average mortgage is estimated at £28,500. Estimates are provisional.