§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 November,Official Report, column 152 to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) about the number of Ministry of Defence residential properties that are currently standing empty, what intentions the Department has for their future use.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe Ministry of Defence housing task force, under the chairmanship of my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, is currently considering ways in which surplus dwellings could be utilised to help those service personnel leaving the services over the next few years on redundancy terms who may experience housing difficulties.
Not all Ministry of Defence empty properties are surplus to our requirements. We will always need to retain an appropriate management margin of vacant properties because of the frequent moves undertaken by service families. In addition, any properties undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation will be brought back into use as the work is completed. Surplus properties are normally disposed of at the earliest opportunity.