HC Deb 25 April 1996 vol 276 cc224-5W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters his Department currently possesses; how many of these are currently up for sale; and how many are currently unoccupied. [25778]

Mr. Arbuthnot

As at 31 December 1995—the latest date for which figures are available—the married quarters stock of the Ministry of Defence numbered 71,016. Of these, 14,396 were unoccupied. Those currently available for sale include 58,371 in England and Wales offered in the sale of the married quarters estate and approximately 4,000 other surplus properties being disposed of by the MOD directly.

Mr. Spellar

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bids for the married quarters estate are(a) for the whole estate and (b) for selected parts. [25918]

Mr. Arbuthnot

All the indicative bids for the married quarters estate are for the whole of the estate for sale.

Mr. Spellar

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of housing(a) are currently being sold from the married quarters estate and (b) are the subject of sale negotiations. [25919]

Mr. Arbuthnot

We intend to transfer ownership of the majority of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector. In addition, 3,322 quarters are currently in the process of disposal, separately from the overall sale of the estate.