Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the long-term future of empty married couples' dwellings identified by his Department. [54741] Mr. Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 101W, to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram). Some 3,000 are held for future service deployments, 500 are held pending modernisation and approximately 800 are in the course of disposal. A further 1,400 will be required to re-house families to facilitate further disposals of surplus stock. The remaining housing stock is available for allocation or awaiting incoming families. New commitments arising from policy changes, such as Gurkha Married Accompanied Service, will also be met from existing surplus housing stock where available and will result in further reductions to the level of void properties. |
