§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to public funds of mortgage tax relief for each of the nations of the UK in(a) the current and (b) the next five years in 1998 prices. [30160]
§ Dawn Primarolo:[holding answer 18 February 1998]: Country and regional estimates of the cost of mortgage interest relief for the years 1993–94 to 1996–97 are published in Table 5.3 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1997", a copy of which is in the Library. The estimates for the years 1993–94 to 1995–96 are based on analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1995–96. The estimates for 1996–97 are projections based on applying the same country and regional distribution as in 1995–96 to the total figure for 1996–97. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below United Kingdom level for 1997–98 and beyond.