§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards discount sales of Ministry of Defence flats to service personnel leaving the forces.
§ Mr. HanleySurplus flats in Scotland are wherever possible offered for sale to service personnel through the services' discount scheme. This scheme is open to all eligible service personnel, not just those leaving the forces. Surplus flats in England and Wales are not offered for sale through the discount scheme because of different property laws, and are instead offered for sale to housing associations in exchange for nomination rights on a percentage of the properties to house those leaving the services over the next few years. If sales cannot be agreed on this basis, the properties are offered for sale by tender on the open market.
§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards residence by separated wives of service personnel with children in Ministry of Defence married quarters not required for use.
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§ Mr. HanleyIf the separation arises because the requirements of the service prevent a wife and family accompanying her husband on a posting, she will be allowed to remain in her married quarter for up to 12 months. If a service man is posted away for a longer period, his wife will normally be given the opportunity to join him. If she chooses not to, she must vacate her quarter within three months. If there are special or compassionate circumstances, which prevent her from joining her husband, she may be offered a surplus married quarter, subject to availability, in the area of her choice.
If the separation arises because of the breakdown of the marriage, an estranged wife will be allowed to remain in her married quarter for a period of 93 days, to allow her time to find alternative accommodation. If the marital breakdown occurs overseas, the wife will he moved at service expense to an address of her choice in the United Kingdom. If a wife has no home to go to, she will be offered a surplus married quarter in the United Kingdom, where she may stay for up to 93 days.
§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of providing caretaking for empty Ministry of Defence married quarters over the past year.
§ Mr. HanleyThe cost of providing caretaking for some 2,000 surplus married quarters in the process of being sold amounted to £270,000 in financial year 1992–93. Caretaking costs of empty properties which are not surplus to requirements are not separately identifiable.
§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel left the forces in 1992.
§ Mr. Hanley34,254 personnel left the services in 1992 and 19,292 joined.