§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of mortgage tax relief in Scotland in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98; and what it is estimated to be for 1998–99. [78214]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe cost of mortgage interest relief in Scotland is estimated to be £A3180 million in 1996–97 and £200 million in 1997–98. These estimates are based on the regional distribution of the cost of mortgage interest relief from analysis of the Family Expenditure Surveys up to 1996–97. The estimates for 1997–98 are projections based on applying the same regional distribution as in 1996–97 to the total figure for 1997–98. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below the United Kingdom level for 1998–99.