§ 24. Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses and caravans, respectively, and at what cost have been built or purchased this year for the use of Army families returning from overseas.
§ Mr. ReynoldsA programme to build 3,300 married quarters at a cost of £12 million has begun; 4,060 houses are in process of purchase at a cost of £16.8 million; and 75 caravans have been bought at a cost of £73,000.
§ Mr. MonroWould it not have been much cheaper and more acceptable to leave our Servicemen and their families in Germany?
§ Mr. ReynoldsOnly a small part of this cost is related to the proposed withdrawal of one brigade from Germany. The bulk of the purchases and construction are for what are becoming known as Defence Review withdrawals. I cannot accept that £28.8 million to be spent on building houses for military or civilian use and available, for the next 60-odd years will be a waste.
§ Mr. LubbockIs the hon. Gentleman aware that production of mobile homes or large caravans could be extended quickly and easily and if they were used for the housing of Servicemen's families they would not place an additional strain on the construction industry in building private dwelling-houses?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI am aware that we could buy mobile homes or caravans. We have deliberately, and I think rightly, taken the decision that if soldiers are brought back or stationed in this country they should have as good housing as anyone else if we can provide it. We are 1809 therefore providing mobile homes or caravans only where no other satisfactory way of dealing with the problem is available.