§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his Department's plans to provide assistance to Service men to buy their own homes.
§ Mr. Pym[pursuant to his reply, 8 August 1980, c. 479–80]The introduction of revised assisted house purchase schemes for the Armed Forces was not possible this year for budgetary reasons. It remains my intention to introduce them as soon as the financial situation permits but it now looks unlikely that they can be given sufficient priority for funding in 1981–82. Implementation of the scheme for the sale of surplus married quarters to Service men at discounted values has similarly had to be delayed; unlike the sale to sitting tenants under the corresponding local authority schemes, it would represent a substantial loss of money to the Ministry of Defence.