Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the written statement of 13 November 2023 entitled Service Family Accommodation and Winter Planning, HCWS28, what steps his Department is taking to fund damp and mould mitigation packages in all service family properties who have a damp and mould report raised.

The Department is aware that what happened last winter was not good enough. Too many homes were affected by damp and mould. That is why we have prioritised a year-long £29 million programme as part of the additional £400 million funding over the next two years announced in the Defence Command Paper Refresh 2023. This will address the underlying causes of damp and mould for around 4,000 homes, representing around 60% of all properties requiring such work.

Most homes will receive a standardised package of relatively simple works including increasing insulation, replacing guttering, upgrading extractor fans, replacing radiators, and resealing windows and doors. The most severely affected homes are being tackled first, with remediation work to over 1,000 already completed.

In properties where more substantial works are required, £94 million of investment this financial year has been dedicated to replacing doors and windows, upgrading heating for around 1,500 homes, improving groundwater drainage and damp-proof courses, roof repairs and/or replacement and installation of external wall insulation to make homes more energy efficient.