§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence why he approved the recent purchase for £50,000 of a married quarter equipped with an indoor badminton court.
§ Mr. JohnOn the assumption that the hon. Member is referring to the married quarter purchased for the Director-General of Personnel Management, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9th December to a 229W similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Wtkinson).—[Vol. 883, c. 60–1.]
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the existing property for the Director-General of Personnel Management at RAF Innsworth was considered inappropriate; why he will not reveal the financial details of transactions he made by private treaty; and what is the cost of redecoration of the property which has been purchased.
§ Mr. JohnThe married quarter which has been occupied by successive Director-Generals of Personnel Management since 1971 proved at an early stage to be unsuitable because it lacked some of the facilities necessary if the responsibilities of the post were to be fully discharged. Initially consideration was given to converting the quarter, but this was found to be impracticable and uneconomic. It was, therefore, decided some two years ago to buy a replacement property, but it is only recently that a house has been found and purchased.
It would breach the normal principle of confidentiality, which applies in both the private and public sectors, for either party to disclose the financial details of transactions made by private treaty.
No expenditure has yet been incurred on modifying and redecorating the house that has been purchased. Proposals for such expenditure will be subject to careful scrutiny.