Departmental Houses (Middleton St. George)

HC Deb 18 June 1980 vol 986 cc586-7W

Mr. Foster

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland on Wednesday 11 June regarding his Department's houses at Middleton St. George, what mains services are needed and at what cost.

Mr. Speed

The problem affecting all the surplus houses at Middleton St. George concerns the need to transfer responsibility for the provision of services such as roads, sewerage and street lighting from MOD to the local authority or other body. I understand that some expenditure may be necessary on these services before transfer but no detailed assessment of costs is yet available Discussions are taking place between MOD, PSA, the local authority and the area water authority in order that the houses may be sold as soon as possible.