§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the loss of revenue due to the failure to sell or relet surplus married quarters at RAF Thorney Island since they became vacant; and what arrangements are being made to enable Service personnel to purchase them on a priority basis.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Thorney Island site was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy in 1976 and many of its quarters were subsequently occupied by Royal Navy personnel. Following the decision in 1977 not to move HMS "Daedalus"—the Royal Naval air station at Lee-on-Solent—the married quarters have been passed to the Pro-706W perty Services Agency for disposal; only five, which are still occupied, remain in Royal Navy hands. Since the quarters were passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal as soon as practicable after they were identified as surplus, there was no avoidable loss of revenue.
The possibility of introducing a scheme of general application for the preferential sale of surplus married quarters to Service personnel is under consideration.