HC Deb 16 December 1976 vol 922 c856W
Mr. Grocott

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's houses are currently empty.

Dr. Gilbert

About 13 per cent. in the United Kingdom, according to the latest available figures.

Mr. Grocott

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the ratio of his Department's houses to defence Service personnel in each of the following years: 1965, 1970 and 1975.

Dr. Gilbert

The earliest year for which complete figures are available is 1967. The ratios of Service married quarters to Service manpower in the United Kingdom were as follows:

1967 1:3.5
1970 1:2.9
1975 1:2.6

The change in the ratio in recent years reflects tendencies towards earlier marriage, greater provision of married quarters for the Royal Navy, and reductions in the numbers of hirings.