HC Deb 22 October 1991 vol 196 cc611-2W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his estimate of the number of service personnel who are currently in severe housing need, and the number who will be in severe housing need by 1994;

(2) what criteria are used to assess whether service personnel are in severe housing need.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Serving personnel are provided with accommodation, if they require it, as part of their conditions of service. The Department is not aware of any serving personnel who are in severe housing need and it is not expected that any serving personnel will be in severe housing need in the foreseeable future.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the name of the leading financial organisation mentioned by the Under-Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton),Official Report, 15 October, column 224, that has offered full-time members of the armed forces the opportunity to apply for mortgages at reduced rate; how far below the average rate this offer will be; and what proportion of those members of the armed forces who apply for the reduced rate mortgage will be granted this mortgage.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Grylls

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the new measures he proposes to introduce to help service men who have to leave the services to find new jobs and new homes.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces gave the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 15 October at column 142 and to his further remarks in the defence debate later that day, at columns 243–44.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the proportion of those service personnel who, having opted to take redundancy, will have made their own provision for housing.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The closing date for applications for voluntary redundancy is the beginning of next month; it is too early to say how many of those applying will have made provision for housing, but as my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces said in the defence debate on 15 October, we expect that most of those who opt to take redundancy terms will have done so.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the task force on service housing was set up; when it is due to finish its work; what is its composition; what representatives from the voluntary housing movement are members; whether there are any local authority representatives on the task force; and whether he will publish a copy of its terms of reference.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the amount of surplus service property that will be made available to housing associations to give temporary help to service personnel in severe housing need.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Discussions with the housing associations are at an early stage and it is too soon to provide an estimate.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place with local authorities regarding the housing requirements of ex-service personnel.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

This Department has held no direct consultations with local authorities. The Department of the Environment are, however, represented on the housing task force.