HC Deb 25 March 2002 vol 382 cc734-5W
Mr. Love

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) buildings and (b) works of art are covered under the conditional exemption scheme for inheritance tax; how many visitors there have been to each in each of the last 10 years, including an estimate for the current year; and if he will make a statement. [42561]

Dawn Primarolo

There are currently 288 cases of conditionally exempt land and/or buildings. Available figures for 65 conditionally exempt properties where visitors are admitted by ticket show an average of about 24,000 visitors per property per year.

86,000 chattels (including works of art) are currently conditionally exempt. Visitor numbers to conditionally exempt chattels are not available.

Mr. Love

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much inheritance tax has been deferred under the conditional exemption scheme in each year since 1984. [42560]

Dawn Primarolo

The estimated cost to the Exchequer of conditional exemption from inheritance tax (and its predecessor, capital transfer tax) is as follows:

Amount of relief (£ million)
1984–85 45
1985–86 30
1986–87 25
1987–88 55
1988–89 50
1989–90 100
1990–91 170
1991–92 20
1992–93 45
1993–94 40
1994–95 60
1995–96 30
1996–97 35
1997–98 40
1998–99 35
1999–2000 10
2000–01 20