HC Deb 10 July 1996 vol 281 cc184-6W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's married housing quarters at Lulworth camp, Dorset, are to be sold as part of the MOD's housing sell-off. [36205]

Mr. Arbuthnot

None. The quarters concerned are held by my Department on a lease which may be assigned.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the consultants providing advice to his Department relating to the sell-off of the married quarters estate. [36480]

Mr. Arbuthnot

Apart from independent advisers, the following consultants have provided advice at various stages since we began to develop the proposal to transfer the married quarters estate to the private sector announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995,Official Report, columns 810–11

  • Financial and accountancy advice
    • NatWest Markets
    • Coopers and Lybrand
    • Price Waterhouse
  • Legal advice
    • Government Property Lawyers
    • Herbert Smith
  • Property advice
    • Savills
    • Cluttons
    • Knight, Frank and Rutley
    • Chestertons
    • DTZ Debenham Thorpe
  • Public relations advice
    • Brunswick

In addition, three firms specialising in Scottish law provided advice prior to the decision to exclude Scotland from the transaction.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for its married housing stock; what has been the total cost to date of payments to consultants advising on the privatisation of this stock; and what is the percentage change in rent charge for this stock between 1995–96 and 1996–97. [34965]

Mr. Arbuthnot

[holding answer 8 July 1996]: The Government's policy is to improve the quality and management of service housing. The sale of the married quarters provides the right basis for real improvements in service housing which are long overdue. The total cost to date of the employment of consultants since we began to develop this proposal, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995, Official Report, columns 810–11, amounts to some £3.8 million, exclusive of VAT, on the basis of invoices received at 4 July 1996. The percentage increase in families' accommodation charges payable by service personnel between 1995–96 and 1996–97 was between 10 and 25 per cent., depending on the type of quarter occupied; the average increase was some 14.5 per cent. This increase was recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body which also makes recommendations on pay. All personnel received a net increase in pay despite the increases in accommodation net charges. Two examples, based on the increase between 1 April 1995 and 1 December 1996 would be a major—depending upon pay scale and type of quarter—receiving a basic pay increase of £122.40 and accommodation charge increase of £33, giving a net gain of £89.40 per month and a lance corporal receiving a basic pay increase of £60.60 and accommodation charge increase of £22.20, giving a net gain of £38.40 per month. Both the Government and the review body have made it clear that the increases in charges have no connection with the sale of the married quarters estate or the way in which charges are set.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department has made for the rehousing of families of service personnel living in married quarters at RAF Finningley. [36122]

Mr. Soames

[holding answer 9 July 1996]: Families were provided with alternative accommodation, as they were posted to other stations. To ensure minimum disruption, however, some families were allowed to remain at Finningley until the end of the school year before making a permanent move.

Dr. Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the provision of married quarters housing for members of his Department serving at RAF Cranwell. [36123]

Mr. Soames

[holding answer 9 July 1996]: My Department is committed to providing married quarters to all eligible service families including those at RAF Cranwell. Works to improve the standard of living accommodation are under way, including modernisation of 230 officers' and 157 airmen's quarters. We have plans to build 34 new houses.