HC Deb 22 February 1988 vol 128 c102W
Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discounts were available to sitting tenants purchasing his Department's houses in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.

Mr. Sainsbury

The discount available to sitting tenants purchasing surplus MOD houses at Bishopton is 33 per cent. if the period of occupation is less than four years. If the period of occupation is four years or over, the discount is 34 per cent. plus 1 per cent. for each complete year by which that period exceeds four years, but not together exceeding 60 per cent., that is, after 30 complete years' qualifying time.

Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's houses there are in(a) Renfrew district and (b) Inverclyde district.

Mr. Freeman

The MOD owns 23 houses in Renfrew district and two in Inverclyde district.

Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's tenants, when allowed to buy their homes, are subject to the same discount policy as council tenants.

Mr. Sainsbury

When MOD civilian houses are declared surplus, sitting tenants are normally offered the chance to buy at the same discounts as offered by local authorities to council tenants, that is, up to a maximum of 60 per cent. The maximum discount allowed on surplus married quarters is 30 per cent. in line with the discounted sales scheme operated for service personnel. This is a scheme between employer and employee and not directly comparable with that operated, by local authorities.

Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discounts are available to tenants of his Department's houses when they want to purchase(a) private designation and (b) local authority designation homes.

Mr. Sainsbury

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.