Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Rhodes Boyson (Conservative), on Monday, 24 June 1996, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 41 members in total.

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SALE OF ARMED FORCES MARRIED QUARTERS

That this House notes that the Government proposes to sell all Ministry of Defence married quarters in England and Wales, including those occupied by service families as well as empty properties, to developers; further notes that this will leave service tenants dependent on a declining number of properties leased back for 25 years; notes that most of the properties can be exchanged by the developer with a neutral arbitrator, rather than the tenants or the Ministry of Defence, deciding whether or not exchanges are permitted; notes that the arbitrator will have to base his decision on set criteria which are vaguely worded, so that developers with expert legal advice will be able progressively to cream off the best estates; notes that steep rises in rents and the downward ratchet on the number of homes leased back, embodied in the proposed scheme, will progressively reduce and break up married quarter estates; notes that, especially at a time of overstretch, and poor recruiting and retention these estates play a vital role in maintaining the morale of service families and the maintenance of the regimental system; and calls on the Government to dispose of surplus estates, to provide homes for civilian families but, before selling any estate with service tenants, to consult the tenants on the estate, to report to Parliament on the outcome of the consultation and to table an affirmative resolution in both Houses.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

SALE OF ARMED FORCES MARRIED QUARTERS (1040A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Peter Bottomley (primary, Conservative) and tabled on Monday, 24 June 1996. It has been signed by 18 members in total.

leave out from 'Wales' to end and add 'in order to improve management and quality of service housing with the intention of having minimal adverse impact on service occupants; trusts and expects the Ministry of Defence to provide service families with the right housing where and when needed; seeks reassurance that any site exchanges will depend on substitute housing as good or better than the original site, and that the charges paid by occupants will continue to be recommended independently by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body; understands that the Ministry of Defence will retain substantial control over which houses to give up and which to keep because of the importance of 'patch' life for service families; and expects the ??100 million sale proceeds to upgrade retained housing without changing the right to be housed, the rents paid, or the service maintenance and management.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

1040 

1040A1 

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Property development

Link

View this Early day motion on edm.parliament.uk