RAF Brize Norton

HC Deb 29 October 1976 vol 918 cc393-4W

Mr. Hurd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF quarters in the vicinity of RAF Brize Norton are now vacant; how this figure compares with a year ago; and what steps he is taking to dispose of accommodation for which Her Majesty's Services have no further need.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Of 1,685 RAF married quarters in the vicinity of RAF Brize Norton 244 were vacant on 1st September 1976, as compared with 152 on 1st September 1975.

Following a comprehensive review, an additional 383 quarters have been identified as surplus to RAF requirements. An alternative Service use has been found for a few of these and the rest have been passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal. A total of 223 of these quarters are still occupied by RAF families who will progressively move into the vacant retained quarters.

The RAF, in common with the Royal Navy and the Army, keeps its holdings of married quarters under constant review,

					Royal Naval Reserve	Royal Marines Reserve	Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve	Total
1966	…		…	…	*	—	7 (7)	7 (7)
1967	…	…	…	…	*	3 (2)	2 (2)	5 (4)
1968	…	…	…	…	*	—	7 (7)	7 (7)
1969	…	…	…	…	—	—	1 (1)	1 (1)
1970	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
1971	…	…	…	…	—	—	3 (3)	3 (3)
1972	…	…	…	…	—	—	2 (—)	2 (—)
1973	…	…	…	…	2 (2)	—	6 (5)	8 (7)
1974	…	…	…	…	—	—	12 (10)	12 (10)
1975	…	…	…	…	1 (1)	—	17(12)	18 (13)
1976 (to date)	…	…	…	…	10 (10)	—	4(1)	14 (11)
* Not available.

The only readily available figures for RAF reservists relate to the period since 1969 and to those who died as a result of accidents. There were two such deaths, one in 1970 and the other in 1975.

and where they are found to be genuinely surplus to requirements they are disposed of.