§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes are(a) currently owned by his Department and (b) vacant by local authority area. [20378]
§ Mr. SoamesThere are 69,306 homes owned by the Ministry of Defence in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The information on vacant homes is not held in the form requested and could be only provided at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely costs of making the properties at Mansergh close, Woolwich fit for habitation. [20382]
§ Mr. SoamesThe properties at Mansergh close, Woolwich were passed as surplus to Annington Homes as part of the sale of the married quarter estate. Refurbishment costs are a matter for Annington Homes.
§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when construction of MOD homes at Mansergh close, Woolwich, was completed; when the properties were first occupied; for what reasons the properties are vacant; and how long they have been vacant. [20380]
§ Mr. SoamesThere are 36 houses at Mansergh close, which were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s and occupied thereafter. The properties were vacated by June 1996, due largely to the reduction in service demand after the closure of the military hospital at Woolwich, and were passed as surplus to Annington Homes as part of the sale of the married quarters.
§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of Nomura Securities in the disposal of the married quarters estate. [20379]
§ Mr. SoamesThe new owners of the married quarter estate are Annington Homes, a British-based company. MOD's continuing relationship on the married quarter estate is with this company. Finance for the transaction was arranged by Nomura International plc, the European arm of Nomura Securities, not the parent company in Tokyo.
§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the costs of security for the empty properties at Mansergh close, SE18; and if he will make a statement. [20381]
§ Mr. SoamesThe properties at Mansergh close, SE18 were passed as surplus to Annington Homes as part of the sale of the married quarters estate. The security of these properties is the responsibility of Annington Homes.