§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be responsible for maintenance, improvements and refurbishments of dwellings privatised by his Department. [5880]
§ Mr. SoamesI refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's answer of 30 November 1995,Official Report, columns 810–11. The specialist housing division within the MOD, the defence housing executive, will retain responsibility for maintenance, improvement, and refurbishment of properties leased back from the purchaser of the married quarters estate in the event that a sale goes ahead. A sale of the married quarters estate to the private sector will, of course, depend on reaching agreement on terms which satisfy the interests of the services and on a price which properly reflects the public interest.