Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) units have been rented privately in each year since 2019; what the (a) average, (b) longest and (c) shortest timeframe for renters having been given notice to quit has been since 2019; and how many of his Department's sites on which SFA is located have had 10 or more notices to quit served in the same calendar month since 2019.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The number and percentage of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties that have been rented privately in each year since 2019 is shown in the table below:
Dates | Total Stock | Privately LET | Percentage Privately LET |
Apr-2019 | 49,437 | 941 | 1.90% |
Apr-2020 | 49,143 | 1,313 | 2.67% |
Apr-2021 | 48,518 | 1,514 | 3.12% |
Apr-2022 | 47,391 | 1,405 | 2.96% |
Apr-2023 | 47,286 | 1,401 | 2.96% |
Apr-2024 | 47,094 | 1,296 | 2.75% |
Sites where ten or more Notices to Quit (NTQ) have been served at the same time are:
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In line with standard procedure, occupants who have been served a NTQ are provided with 65 days’ notice as specified within the tenancy agreement. However, individual specific circumstances will be taken into account where there are extenuating circumstances, as is the case at RAF Henlow, where one year’s notice has been given.
The average timeframe for a NTQ could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release of 11 December 2023 entitled British minehunting ships to bolster Ukrainian Navy as UK and Norway launch maritime support initiative, whether the two Sandown Class minehunters procured by Ukraine through UK Export Finance have arrived in Ukraine.
Answered by Leo Docherty
It would not be appropriate to discuss specifics of the vessels transiting to Ukrainian waters.
The Ukrainian crew of the vessels are currently undergoing training around UK waters, which has included participation in a multinational Mine Counter Measures exercise. The Royal Navy will continue to support these efforts and remains ready to assist with the transit of the vessels to Ukrainian waters, when appropriate.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5th February 2024 to Question 12474 on MOD Chicksands: Housing, how many of the (a) grade 3 and (b) grade 4 bedspaces will be required in each of the years between 2024 and 2030.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The anticipated bedspace usage across the period 2024 – 2030 for grade 3 and 4 is:
Grade 3 SLA (total 489 beds) 88% - 429 beds
Grade 4 SLA (total 431 beds) 0%
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February to Question 12474 on RAF Chicksands: Housing, what plans his Department has to improve the (a) grade three (b) grade four accommodation over the next 12 months.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The programme of works commencing in April 2024 is being finalised, but currently includes the refurbishment of kitchen and ablution areas in three single living accommodation (SLA) blocks, which will improve the lived experience.
The works are unlikely to raise the blocks above grade three or four as this will require new-build blocks or a full refurbishment programme, which is unlikely to complete before the base is scheduled to close in 2030.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the service accommodation at Chicksands base in Mid Bedfordshire falls into each category of accommodation standard.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Of the 255 Service Family Accommodation properties at Chicksands, Mid Bedfordshire, 98.5% meet or exceed the Decent Homes (DH) Standard.
A breakdown is shown in the table below:
DH Standard | Total SFA | % |
DH Plus | 240 | 94.12% |
DH | 11 | 4.31% |
DH Minus | 4 | 1.57% |
All Service Family Accommodation allocated to Service families in the UK meets the Government’s Decent Homes Standard as a minimum. Homes below this standard should not be allocated to Service personnel and their families.
There are 1,228 Single Living Accommodation (SLA) Bedspaces at Chicksands, Mid Bedfordshire.
A breakdown is shown in the table below:
Grade for Condition | Number of Bedspaces | % |
2 | 308 | 25% |
3 | 489 | 40% |
4 | 431 | 35% |
There are four grades of permanent SLA - ranging from one to four, one being the highest condition - based on the assessment criteria of location, age, state of repair, size and facilities.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) plans his Department has and (b) the timetable is for the (i) closure and (ii) disposal of RAF Henlow.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The Department continues to work towards the closure and disposal of RAF Henlow from 2026.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister for Defence Procurement during the debate on Service Accommodation of 19 December 2023, Official Report, column 500WH, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire on Chicksands military base.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
I can confirm that a letter has been written for the hon. Member, regarding Chicksands military base, and will be sent out imminently.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Hitchin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel were living in grade four single living accommodation in Bedfordshire as of 12 December 2023.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.