§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average rent per week in service married quarters; and what was the average rent in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Soames[holding answer 17 January 1995]: The average rents for Service married quarters owned by my Department are given below. These figures are based on furnished accommodation in England and represent the most commonly occupied quarters.
Service married quarters MOD civilian houses Former married quarters in the process of sale Former civilian houses in the process of sale Total Clwyd 292 0 0 0 292 Dyfed 451 25 26 1 503 Gwent 175 0 15 0 190 Gwynedd 391 0 0 0 391 Mid Glamorgan 6 0 0 0 6 Powys 205 0 0 0 205 South Glamorgan 965 0 0 0 965 West Glamorgan 16 0 1 0 17 Total 2,501 25 42 1 2,569 The married quarter returns are reported by service unit based on the unit's location, and some of the properties may therefore be located in a neighbouring county. The information requested on valuations is not available.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's houses remain vacant in each of the districts and boroughs of Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesAlthough we maintain no record by district and borough, as at 30 September, my Department owned the following vacant housing properties in each county in Wales:
688W
Service married quarters MOD civilian houses Former married quarters in the process of sale Total Clwyd 81 0 0 81 Dyfed 56 8 26 90 Gwent 107 0 15 122 Gwynedd 16 0 0 16
Married quarters charge for last five years 1990—91 £ 1991—92 £ 1992—93 £ 1993—94 £ 1994—95 £ Officers 32.65 37.17 40.67 41.30 43,12 Other ranks 20.91 23.87 26.04 26.46 27.74 Additionally, most personnel pay a contribution in lieu of council tax.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many lone parents there are living in accommodation owned by his Ministry.
§ Mr. SoamesAs at 16 January 1995 there were 647 lone parents in married quarter accommodation owned by my Department. Lone parents are defined as widows or widowers, divorced, separated or unmarried personnel who have parental responsibility for a child or children within the terms of the Children Act 1989.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of his Department's houses and their estimated total value in each of the districts and boroughs of Wales and in Wales as a whole.
§ Mr. SoamesAlthough we maintain no record by district and borough, as at 30 September, my Department owned the following housing properties in each county in Wales:
Service married quarters MOD civilian houses Former married quarters in the process of sale Total Mid Glamorgan 0 0 0 0 Powys 20 0 0 20 South Glamorgan 33 0 0 33 West Glamorgan 4 0 1 5 Total 317 8 42 367 The married quarter returns are reported by service unit based on the unit's location, and some of the properties may therefore be located in a neighbouring county.
A large number of the vacant service married quarters were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the improvement and development of his Department's houses in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
689W
§ Mr. SoamesI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 November 1994,Official Report, column 1, to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw). My Department's plans for improving the quality and management of our married quarter estates include our properties in Wales.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds his Department has not pursued its plans to establish a housing trust for the sale of the married quarters estate.
§ Mr. SoamesThe problems surrounding the Housing Trust, as originally conceived, related to its classification as a private sector body. As my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced on 17 November 1994,Official Report, column 1, we are proceeding instead with the creation of a Defence Housing Executive, thus building on the efforts and resources invested in the trust proposal.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to date for management consultants and merchant bankers who have advised on his Department's plans for the future of the married quarters estate.
§ Mr. SoamesThe total value of invoices presented to date by management and other consultants and merchant banks assisting in developing the Department's plans for the future of the married quarters estate is some £3,300,000 exclusive of VAT. The work undertaken in developing the Housing Trust proposals will form the basis for the creation of the Defence Housing Executive as announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 November 1994,Official Report, column 1.