To ask Her Majesty's Government how many spare rooms would be removed from taxation if the limit above which tax is paid on the rental income from them was raised from the current £4,250 to £9,000; and what would be the cost to the exchequer. [HL130]

HM Revenue and Customs' administrative systems do not hold detailed information about the number of rooms which are rented out. It is estimated that if the current rent a room relief limit was raised from £4,250 to £9,000, around 10,000 individuals would receive some benefit from the change at a cost to the exchequer of around £10 million.