§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his written reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 8 January,Official Report, columns 553–56, on mortgage interest relief by range of income, whether he will provide a breakdown for each region.
§ Mr. LilleyThe information requested is not available for each region. The regional distribution of mortgagors and mortgage interest relief can be estimated from the family expenditure survey (FES), but the sample size for the FES is not large enough to provide more detailed estimates for each region. The table provides the available estimates:
Regional share of mortgagors and mortgage interest relief based on FES data for 1986 and 1987 Mortgagors (per cent.) Mortgage interest relief (per cent.) Northern 5.1 4.3 Yorkshire and Humberside 8.6 7.5 North West 12.0 10.5 East Midlands 7.8 6.8 West Midlands 8.3 7.4 East Anglia 3.6 3.7 Greater London 10.9 13.3 Other South East 22.6 26.0 South West 8.1 8.2 Wales 5.2 4.6 Scotland 6.3 6.4 Northern Ireland 1.5 1.3 United Kingdom 100.0 100.0
§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many individuals in Scotland are currently receiving mortgate interest tax relief; and what were the comparable figures for 1973–74, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1988–89 and 1989–90;
(2) what is the current cost to the Exchequer of paying mortgage interest tax relief in Scotland; and what was the cost in 1973–74, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1988–89 and 1989–90.
§ Mr. LilleyPrecise estimates of mortgagors and mortgage relief in Scotland are not available. The 1986 and 1987 family expenditure surveys indicate that 6.3 per cent. of all mortgagors are in Scotland and they claim 6.4 per cent. of all mortgage interest relief. This would imply about 600,000 mortgagors receiving £450 million mortgage interest relief in 1989–90. The equivalent figures for 1988–89 are 570,000 and £350 million. Information for the earlier years is not available.