Service Housing (Hansard, 20 July 1993)

§ Mr. Bates
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides for the housing of former RAF personnel; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Hanley
A wide range of resettlement advice and support is available to all personnel leaving the services. A joint service housing advice office has been set up to provide advice and guidance on housing options, working closely with local authorities and housing associations. Other measures include the sale or lease of surplus property to housing associations in return for the reservation of places for rent by service personnel, and the provision by the Housing Corporation of do-it-yourself shared ownership opportunities, specifically for those leaving the services. Any personnel who have failed to find accommodation by the time they come to leave the services, will be allowed to stay on temporarily in his or her married quarter provided it is not required for a service family.

§ Mr. Hendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many discount sales of Ministry of Defence married quarters he expects to make in the forthcoming year to service personnel leaving the forces.

§ Mr. Hanley
The scheme for selling surplus married quarters at a discount is open to all service personnel over the age of 25. It is not possible to identify without disproportionate cost how many surplus married quarters being sold through the discount scheme are being purchased by personnel leaving the services.

§ Mr. Hendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy towards residence by those other than redundees whose term of service is not renewed in Ministry of Defence married quarters not required for use;
(2) what is his policy towards the residence in his Department's married quarters outside secure perimeters of ex-service personnel.

§ Mr. Hanley
Ministry of Defence married quarters, whether inside or outside the perimeter fence, are reserved for the use of service families. All married service personnel are therefore required to vacate their quarters by their last day of service. The Ministry of Defence is, however, sympathetic to the needs of all ex-service families with housing difficulties; in these circumstances ex-service personnel may be allowed to remain in their quarter until they have found alternative accommodation, as long as there are no pressing service requirements for the property.