§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average wait is by service personnel for accommodation in the private sector when DHE housing is unavailable has been in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [44970]
§ Dr. MoonieWhen service family accommodation is not available, the Defence Housing Executive authorises substitute service family accommodation. A Ministry of Defence accommodation agency contractor is then tasked to provide appropriate accommodation from the commercial rental market to meet the service applicant's required date.
From 1 January 2001 to 28 February 2002, there were 434 applications for SSFA. Of these, some 42 per cent. of applicants were housed, on average, eight days before their required date. The remaining 58 per cent. were housed, on average, 20 days after their required date.