§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the total number of residential properties owned by his Department, (b) the number of such properties which are empty and (c) (b) as a percentage of (a), showing separate figures for service and civilian properties.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAs at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, the stock and vacancy position of residential properties in MOD ownership was as follows:
Stock Vacancies Percentage vacant Service married quarters 72,202 9,167 12.7 Civilian houses 744 154 20.7 Total 72,946 9,321 12.8 Many of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, some were already allocated to Service families who were due to move in shortly and others were being considered for disposal. Of the vacant civilian houses 88 were leased properties at Faslane awaiting return to Dumbarton district council. In addition some 1,800 married quarters and some 780 civilian houses, mostly occupied, were in the process of being sold.