HC Deb 20 January 1972 vol 829 cc657-8
24. Mr. Tilney

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the average time the wives of Royal Air Force personnel have to wait for a married quarter in Western Europe within two miles of where their husbands are stationed.

Mr. Lambton

The wait varies according to Royal Air Force station, rank, length of service, size of family and a number of other factors, so an average is not easy to strike. However, a wife would probably wait between five and eight months. About half our married quarters are within two miles of the stations they serve.

Mr. Tilney

Is my hon. Friend aware that much of the private landlord married quarters accommodation is far away, bad and expensive? This was the main complaint which hon. Members found recently when they were in Germany where otherwise morale was very high. Will the Government enter into negotiations with the German Government on the purchase of land to build married quarters in multiple-storey flats for the benefit of Service people?

Mr. Lambton

This is a matter which we bear very much in mind. I am sure my hon. Friend will be pleased to know that we are acquiring another 384 mul- tiple hirings from German development companies.