§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the proportion of vacant houses owned by his Department has increased during the previous five years.
§ Mr. FreemanAs I stated in a reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 28 January 1987, at column 127, the principal reason for this increase has been the growing tendency towards owner-occupation among the armed forces, in common with the national trend: although MOD had disposed of some 6,000 surplus married quarters during the past five years, this reduction in stock has been outpaced by the move towards home-ownership. Another factor has been a major modernisation programme which renders married quarters unavailable for occupation but which, when completed, will leave them much more attractive as family homes.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Defence which local authorities have had use of his Department's housing on a short-term let basis.
§ Mr. FreemanRecords of lettings to local authorities have not been maintained centrally, but it is known that the following have had use of the Department's housing:684W
- Exeter City Council.
- Plymouth City Council.
- Portsmouth City Council.
- Gosport Borough Council.
- Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.
- Christchurch Borough Council.
- East Hampshire District Council.
- Kennet District Council.
- Rushmoor District Council.
- Test Valley Borough Council.
- Rushcliffe District Council.
- Salisbury District Council.
- North Wiltshire District Council.
- West Wiltshire District Council.
- Gloucester City Council.
- South Oxon District Council.
- Harrogate Borough Council.
- Alnwick District Council.
- London Borough of Greenwich.
Married quarters are currently leased to the following local authorities:
- Exeter City Council.
- Plymouth City Council.
- Portsmouth City Council.
- Gosport Borough Council.
- Kennet District Council.
- North Wiltshire District Council.
- London Borough of Greenwich.