§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Department remained vacant on 31 March this year, and on the same date in each of the previous two years, in each of the six district council areas in Cornwall; what arrangements have been agreed to make them available on a fixed-term basis for renting by the local authorities or housing associations; and if he will make a statement on his policy to enable the best possible use of housing stock in rural areas with major homelessness problems.
§ Mr. AitkenThe number of vacant dwellings owned by my Department in Cornwall over the last three years as at 31 March was as follows:
Number 1990 118 1991 80 1992 98 Figures for individual district council areas are not available. The figure for 31 March 1992 represents just over 9 per cent. of our total stock and is in line with advice from outside consultants on the appropriate management margin needed to meet Defence requirements. Many of the vacant properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, while others were already allotted to service families who were due to move in shortly. Wherever possible we do arrange leases of temporarily surplus houses to local authorities and housing associations. We currently have some 950 properties on lease throughout the United Kingdom, including 17 on lease in Cornwall to Kerrier district council.
The Department's policy is to dispose of all property which is surplus to its long term requirements. Of the 2 MOD dwellings currently being sold in Cornwall, 19 at Padstow were offered to the Council and to a local housing association but the offer was declined. They are now to be sold on the open market.