§ Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for Air how many houses under the control of his Department were without tenants at the latest convenient date; how many have been empty for over six 161W months; what is the longest period any house has been without a tenant; where the empty houses are situated; and what it is proposed to do with them.
§ Mr. J. AmeryOn 1st January, 1961. 161 of the 35,000 married quarters and hirings held by the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom were without tenants as a result of being surplus to our requirements. 33 houses had been empty for over six months including six for 21 months
The unoccupied surplus houses are at Usworth (Durham), Crosslaw (Lancashire), Penrhos (Caernarvonshire), Hooton Park (Cheshire), Altrincham (Cheshire), Harpur Hill (Derbyshire), and Silloth and Kirkbride (Cumberland). They will either be transferred to other Government Departments or sold. In most cases negotiations are already in progress.
In addition, 713 married quarters and hirings were empty on the same date for administrative reasons, such as furnishing or refurnishing, repairs or decoration, or the normal interval between tenancies.