§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the amount of rent arrears currently outstanding on service housing;
(2) how many ex-service families were evicted as result of non-payment of rent for service housing in each of the last two years.
§ Mr. SoamesAll serving personnel who occupy service families accommodation have their accommodation charges deducted from their pay. Personnel who have left the services lose their entitlement to this accommodation. If they continue to occupy it they become irregular occupants and must pay damages for trespass, which are charged at a level considered to he a fair market rent. At present, there are DFT arrears of some £2.9 million for the Army and Navy. The RAF does not hold these figures centrally.
509WAlthough proceedings to evict irregular occupants for non-payment of rent have been initiated in a number of cases in the last two years, no evictions have been necessary.