§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds was of large scale voluntary transfer for each of the last 10 years. [139429]
§ Keith HillWhere a large scale voluntary transfer has a positive value there is no additional cost to public funds. Where there is a negative value a dowry may be required. Between 1996 and 2000 the Office provided dowry funding for negative value estate based transfers through the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund. The annual provision was 1996–97. £7.8 million; 1997–98, £132.9 million; 1998–99, £146.3 million, and 1999–2000, ℃201.2 million. It is possible that other Government programmes have provided financial contributions to large scale voluntary transfers however a central record is not maintained. However, the information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.