§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will transfer the freehold of Ministry of Defence houses and flats to appropriate local housing associations, while retaining nomination rights where vacancies occur.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Henley):Sale in bulk to local authorities or housing associations, with rights of nomination for personnel leaving the Services to occupy the housing stock owned by those bodies, is an option which my department already exercises as one method of disposing of surplus properties. In addition, discussions are at present taking place with the Housing Corporation on an enhanced programme of short-term leasing to housing associations. For the future, we arc continuing to consider possibilities for transferring the married quarters estate to the private sector.