§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what messing, accommodation and recreational facilities are available to service personnel based at Birmingham hospitals. [69266]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 15 July 2002]At present there is no service accommodation for permanent staff, long-term or short course students at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM). Depending on their personal circumstances and the nature of their duties, staff and students are housed either in Ministry of Defence quarters within reasonable travelling distance of the site, MOD-hired accommodation, university student accommodation, hotels or suitable bed-and-breakfast accommodation. Mess and recreational facilities at two reserve units in Birmingham (202 Field Hospital and HMS Forward) are being used by those posted to the RCDM. In the longer term, a number of options are being considered for the development of facilities for staff and students at the RCDM.