To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the average cost was for upgrading a (a) single living accommodation and (b) single family accommodation from standard 4 to standard 3 in the latest period for which figures are available; (174471)

MOD does not collect data in the form requested, nor does the Department approach the modernisation or upgrading of service families accommodation (SFA) and single living accommodation (SLA) in the way suggested.

The only time that we would improve a standard 4 for condition property just to standard 3, or simply uplifting any standard to one higher, would be as part of life-cycle maintenance activity; for instance, replacing bathrooms, kitchens or boilers and this would be classified as an upgrade.

It should be noted that 95 per cent. of SFA in mainland Great Britain is already at either standard 1 (60 per cent.) or standard 2 (35 per cent.) for condition. Over the last three years some 5,500 properties in the UK and 20,000 SLA worldwide have been upgraded to standard 1. Another 600 SFA will be upgraded in the current year with funding in place for a further 600 in 2008-09, and 800 per annum in subsequent years. By 2013 the Department is planning to upgrade a further 30,000 SLA to Grade 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service families' properties were upgraded to (a) S1fC and (b) S2fC categories under the standard for condition initiative in each of the last four years. (179926)

[holding answer 17 January 2008]: In each of the last four years the following numbers of service families accommodation (SFA) properties were upgraded to standard 1 for condition (S1fC).

It is not possible separately to identify the number of properties that were upgraded to S2fC in each of the last four years. The Department only has targets to upgrade SFA to S1fC, other lesser upgrades would only take place as part of life-cycle maintenance activity (for instance replacing bathrooms, kitchens or boilers).