§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average level of rent charged for a married quarters housing stock unit in each of the last five years. [6544]
§ Mr. SoamesThe average weekly charges for service families accommodation owned by the Ministry of Defence are as follows, and are based on furnished accommodation in England, Scotland and Wales and of the most commonly occupied type of accommodation.
1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 £ £ £ £ £ Officers 37.17 40.67 41.30 43.12 47.04 Other ranks 23.87 26.04 26.46 27.74 29.68 Additionally, all service personnel pay a contribution in lieu of council tax. Some of the quarters are occupied by civilians and these charges are based on market rents which are assessed by local defence lands service offices.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methods are currently used to collect rent on the married quarters housing stock owned by his Department; and what plans he has to review these methods. [6542]
§ Mr. SoamesAccommodation charges for service personnel and entitled MOD personnel are deducted directly from pay accounts, and there are no plans to review this method of payment. With regard to other personnel, various payment methods are employed. The defence housing executive is currently reviewing these methods of payment, with a view to recommending that all should be made by standing order or direct debit.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the marketable value of the married quarters housing stock owned by his Department. [6546]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotOur assessment of the value of the married quarters estate under the terms of the proposed sale is commercially confidential.
987W
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people employed by his Department lived in the married quarters housing stock owned by his Department in each of the last five years; and how many do so currently. [6541]
§ Mr. SoamesTotal occupancy of the married quarters stock owned by my Department on 31 March in each of the last five years and on 30 September, which is the most recent information available, was as follows:
- 31 March 1991: 63,351
- 31 March 1992: 62,929
- 31 March 1993: 62,687
- 31 March 1994: 61,230
- 31 March 1995: 59,776
- 31 September 1995: 59,549
Information on the number of these quarters which were occupied by service and civilian personnel employed by my Department is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figures include a significant number of people not employed by my Department, for example, irregular occupants, foreign service personnel, and contractors' staff.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total rent collected by his Department on the married quarters housing stock in each of the last five years. [6545]
§ Mr. SoamesInformation is readily available only for the last four financial years. The total rent collected for married quarters was as follows:
- 1991–92: £129.33 million
- 1992–93: £132.54 million
- 1993–94: £147.08 million
- 1994–95: £145.64 million
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the criteria used to set rent levels for the married quarters housing stock owned by his Department. [6543]
§ Mr. SoamesAccommodation charges for service personnel are recommended annually by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. It traditionally bases its recommendations on local authority rents, with an abatement to reflect the disadvantages of living in service accommodation when compared with local authority housing. The subject of service accommodation charges is currently under review by the AFPRB as part of the 1996 programme of work. In addition, some of the quarters are occupied by civilians employed by MOD, and their charges are based on market rents which are assessed by local Defence lands service offices.