§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many military families hostels are now in use; what total accommodation these provide; and how this compares with the position one and two years ago, respectively.
§ Mr. BoydenThere are now two military families hostels in use which can together accommodate between 175 and 192 families, the total at any one time depending upon the size of families requiring this accommodation. A year ago the position was the same; two years ago 152 was the maximum number of families which could be accommodated.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average a soldier's family housed in a military families hostel now has to wait before moving into permanent married accommodation; and how this compares with the position one and two years ago, respectively.
§ Mr. BoydenEighty-five per cent. of the families who stay in military families hostels spend less than 3 months there. The average length of stay for these families is 6 weeks. The average length of stay of the remainder who move into Army married accommodation is between 4 and 5 months. These averages have remained the same for the last two years.