HC Deb 17 December 1992 vol 216 c362W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses of his Department are currently vacant.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

As at 30 September, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,321 MOD-owned houses and flats were vacant out of a total stock of 72,946. Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly and others were being considered for disposal. In addition, some 1,800 dwellings were in the process of being sold.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to return vacant housing of his Department into civilian use; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The majority of my Department's vacant housing is undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, already allotted to service families due to move in shortly or in the process of sale. In addition, some vacant housing has been earmarked for service families returning from overseas as a result of "Options for Change". Wherever possible, surplus properties are sold to service personnel through the services discount scheme. Some 900 surplus properties which are not suitable for this scheme are currently in the process of being sold to housing associations at a discount in return for nomination rights on a proportion of the properties for personnel who will be leaving the services over the next few years.