HC Deb 24 July 1967 vol 751 cc23-4
3. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made in the com- pletion of married quarters for the armed Services in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Prentice

5,032 quarters were completed in the year ending 31st March, 1967, compared with 3,668 in 1965–66 and 3,631 in 1964–65.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

As there is nearly £5 million in the Estimates for new starts this year and in view of the rather drastic Service cuts, will the number of new starts for married quarters now be reduced? What decision has been reached?

Mr. Prentice

No, Sir. We are at present working on a programme of 4,000 completions a year on the regular programme. To this has been added a special programme of 3,300 to be built between now and 1970–71 to cater for Servicemen returning from overseas above those which were expected. I do not see any reason to suppose that this programme may be cut at the present time.