§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the housing needs of redundant British service men and women returning home from overseas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAll service personnel selected for redundancy are invited to say where they intend to settle when they leave and what their housing intentions are. The replies from those made redundant in 1992–93 indicated that some 50 per cent. of personnel already owned their own homes and that the majority (over 75 per cent.) were confident about their housing arrangements. The replies also indicated that resettlement will be spread across the country and that the number of housing applications to individual local authorities is unlikely to be significant. For those with no firm plans for housing arrangements, the joint services housing advice office can provide comprehensive guidance on housing options. We will continue to monitor the situation.