§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much mortgage interest relief at source cost in Scotland in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1996; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1996–97. [17224]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The cost of mortgage interest tax relief in Scotland was estimated to be £260 million in 1995–96. The amount of relief given through MIRAS—mortgage interest relief at source—was £250 million in 1994–95 and £190 million in 1995–96.
These estimates are based on the regional distribution of the cost of mortgage interest relief from analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1994. The estimates for 1995–96 are projections based on applying the same regional distribution as in 1994–95 to the total figure for 1995–96. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below United Kingdom level for 1996–97.