Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) single service substitute accommodation and (b) substitute service family accommodation that has combustible cladding.

In February 2020 a full review of substitute accommodation in high-rise buildings six storeys and over was completed. Personnel were moved out of this accommodation where external wall systems (EWS) with combustible components were identified and where there was no evidence to confirm further safety assessments had been carried out or remedial works would be completed by the building owner. All necessary remedial work identified for substitute accommodation in high rise buildings has been completed.

Subsequently, the MOD’s housing contractor assesses all new high-rise substitute accommodation buildings to ensure none with unsuitable EWS are leased.

Given existing building regulations a similar assessment of the proportion of low-rise substitute accommodation buildings (five storeys and below) has not at this time been undertaken. However, the MOD has chosen to survey low rise buildings for combustible components in their EWS on its own estate to understand its position fully.