§ Mr. Kimballasked the Secretary of State for Defence for how much longer the Royal Air Force will need officers' and other ranks' housing at RAF Hems-well, near Gainsborough; whether he envisages a continuous use by the Royal Air Force for this housing; whether he can guarantee some future use by other Service Departments; and if he will make a statement in order to clarify the position of local people who earn their living by and from this defence establishment.
§ Mr. JohnFollowing a review of the Royal Air Force's requirements for married quarters in North Lincolnshire, the airmen's and all except 20 of the officers' quarters at RAF Hemswell will become surplus to RAF requirements. However, because the possibility of 199W moving another Service unit into Hemswell is under consideration, no final decision has yet been taken on the future of the surplus quarters. In the event of such a move, there may be a Service requirement for some of the surplus married quarters. An announcement on the future of the station will be made as early as possible.
(a) Expenditure on Central Office of Information Votes (Actual) (b) Expenditure on Ministry of Defence Votes (Allocated for 1973–74) Total of columns (a) and (b) Officers RN/RM … … … 434,295 7,100 441,395 Army … … … 403,250 — 403,250 RAF … … … 399,590 — 399,590 Total Officers … … … 1,237,135 7,100 1,244,235 Servicemen/women RN/RM … … … 867,991 39,700 907,691 Army … … … 1,575,275 33,000 1,608,275 RAF … … … 597,901 97,000 694,901 Total Servicemen … … … 3,041,167 169,700 3,210,867 Total … … … 4,278,302 176,800 4,455,102