§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of local authorities in England and Wales use length of service as the basis for housing allocation to ex-service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [69795]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Department does not hold this information. Many local housing authorities require applicants for housing to have been resident in their area for a specified period before they will place them on their housing registers. This sort of requirement can cause difficulties for ex-service personnel and the Department's Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness advises authorities to give sympathetic 245W consideration to applications from ex-service personnel who have close connections with their district or lived their prior to enlisting.