HC Deb 29 March 1996 vol 274 cc785-6W
Mr. Robathan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study has been carried out into examples overseas, with particular reference to Australia, of selling the armed forces married quarters estate to private property developers; and what have been its conclusions. [23068]

Mr. Arbuthnot

We have studied the defence housing arrangements of both the French and the Australian Governments, and in particular the latter's experience in establishing a defence housing authority. We are not aware of any overseas parallels to our current proposals for the transfer of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the main terms proposed for the sale of the married quarters estate, indicating the variations from the terms of sale of local authority housing by means of large-scale voluntary transfer under sections 135 and 136 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. [23106]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The main terms proposed for the sale of the married quarters estate in England and Wales were set out in the preliminary information memorandum published on 30 November 1995, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The proposed sale cannot readily be compared with large-scale voluntary transfers, as is illustrated by the fact that those properties which are required to accommodate service families will be transferred on a leasehold basis and rented back to my Department.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assumptions his Department has made on the anticipated level of income from rents from the married quarters estate over the period(a) five, (b) 10, (c) 20 and (d) 30 years. [23105]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The level of married quarters charges recovered from occupants by my Department in future years will depend upon future recommendations on charges by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and on the take-up of married quarters by entitled personnel. Our assumptions concerning the level of rents payable by my Department to the future owners of the married quarters estate in England and Wales are commercially confidential.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance is being offered to potential purchasers of the married quarters estate towards the cost of renovating the properties; and under what provisions this is being offered. [23104]

Mr. Arbuthnot

Under the terms of the sale, maintenance and renovation of quarters leased by my Department will be its responsibility for the duration of the relevant leases. Maintenance and renovation of surplus quarters which are passed over to the owners of the estate—whether at the outset or subsequently on the termination of leases—will be a matter for those owners.