41. Mr. J. P. L. Thomasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of married quarters available in the United Kingdom for officers and other ranks of the Navy, respectively; the number of such married quarters at present unoccupied awaiting repair; the number of married quarters at present 382 under construction; and the number of officers and men whose names are at present on a waiting list for married quarters.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsThe numbers of married quarters in the United Kingdom occupied by naval officers and ratings are 260 and 322 respectively. In addition, improvised quarters are occupied by 73 officers and 140 ratings. The number of married quarters at present unoccupied while awaiting repair is not readily available, but it is known to be very small. The number of married quarters under construction or for which contracts have been let is 200. In addition, conversion of existing buildings is in hand which will provide a further 20 quarters.
Naval officers and ratings have no entitlement to married quarters in the United Kingdom, and there is therefore nothing in the nature of a waiting list. It is, however, the Admiralty's intention to provide married quarters to a reasonable extent at certain isolated establishments, particularly air stations, and the construction and conversion programme to which I have referred is a step towards implementing that intention.