Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on his reasons for proposing the transfer of the ownership and management of the married quarters estate to a new organisation;
680W(2) if he will describe the size and structure of the new organisation that is due to take over the ownership and management of the married quarters estate; who will staff it; when it will be established; what type of performance monitoring it will employ; how it will be financed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI refer the hon. Member to the note placed in the Library of the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in response to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 24 February at column395. The recommendation of the housing task force that a new, non-profit making organisation should take over from the MOD the ownership and management of the married quarters estate for all three services is being considered in detail by my Department. Announcements on the decision on the recommendation will be made in due course.