HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc169-71W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received about the(a) suitability and (b) condition of MOD married quarters each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [34034]

Dr. Moonie

The number of complaints received by Defence Housing Executive about the condition of properties is as follows:

Year Complaints
April 1998 to March 1999 92
April 1999 to March 2000 77
April 2000 to March 2001 50
April 2001 to September 2001 28

Figures for 1997–98 are not available

Separate records of complaints about suitability are not held centrally and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Suitable accommodation for entitled service personnel is defined by type. There are five property types for officers and three types for other ranks. In general, rank and appointment determines the property type allocated to officers and family size determines the type for other ranks. There are special standards for high cost areas such as London. Joint service property scales lay down specifications for every property type, and a four-tier grading system is used to determine level of charges in properties which do not fully comply with the specifications.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for(a) serious neglect and (b) vandalism against MOD houses have been made in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [34607]

Dr. Moonie

The Defence Housing Executive, which manages service families' accommodation in Great Britain, has no formal record of the number of complaints made about serious neglect or vandalism. The incidence of vandalism is low on occupied estates and is dealt with as and when it arises. Unoccupied estates, awaiting disposal or upgrade, are kept as secure as is practicable. Local or Ministry of Defence police patrol sites, where this is considered necessary.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent upgrading MOD married quarters in each constituency since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [34610]

Dr. Moonie

A breakdown of upgrade expenditure by constituency is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a total of £95.7 million has been spent on the upgrade of service families housing in England, Scotland and Wales since 1997. This can be broken down as follows:

Financial year £ million
1997–98 12.4
1998–99 13.6
1999–2000 27.8
2000–01 41.9

These figures do not include new builds, demolition/rebuild or PFI projects.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who manages MOD housing in each constituency; and if he will make a statement. [34609]

Dr. Moonie

Services families' accommodation in Great Britain is managed by the Defence Housing Executive (DHE). The DHE was set up in 1995, bringing the three services' housing functions into a single management unit.

Services families' accommodation in Northern Ireland is managed by the Families' Housing Service responsible to the GOC Northern Ireland.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on private sector housing for service personnel in the last 12 months, broken down by constituency; and if he will make statement. [34033]

Dr. Moonie

The table shows the expenditure on substitute accommodation in Great Britain rented by the Ministry of Defence from the private sector when accommodation according to entitlement could not otherwise be provided for service personnel and their families. Figures relate to the period 1 January to 31 December 2001. A breakdown by constituency could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

£000
Family accommodation Single accommodation
Rent 9,361 22,304
Fees 212 1,272
Council tax, utilities, telephone line rental, etc. 933 3,432
Total 10,506 27,008

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are seeking married quarters accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [34031]

Dr. Moonie

The Defence Housing Executive (DHE) is required to provide, on request, family accommodation for entitled service personnel within 10 miles of their duty station and by their required date. In general, houses are kept waiting for service families, rather than service families kept waiting for housing. During 2000–01, over 97 per cent. of entitled service families were housed within 28 days of their required date (against a target of 92 per cent.) and a similar achievement is expected for 2001–02.

When DHE accommodation is unavailable, substitute service families accommodation (SSFA) is provided, by DHE, from the private rental market.