§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on expenditure on improvements and furnishings for the accommodation assigned to commanding officers; and if he will make a statement. [127114]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Defence Housing Executive (DHE)'s Key Targets require it to upgrade all of the core stock of Service Family Accommodation in Great Britain to Standard 1 for Condition, as funding allows. In this respect, no distinction is made between houses lived in by commanding officers and those lived in by any other service personnel and their families.
All Service personnel are entitled to furnished accommodation, with the furnishings provided being of a standard quality, regardless of the occupant's rank. The exceptions to this are very senior officers and officers who hold 'Command Appointments', where, due to their appointment, they are required to provide official entertainment, and so they are entitled to have an enhanced standard of furnishings in public areas. 40W Maintenance of furnishings in all properties is carried out within funding constraints, and items are only replaced when they become unserviceable.