To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last six years on providing private rented accommodation for service personnel and their families. (170453)

In 1996, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) sold its service families accommodation (SFA) in England and Wales to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL). Under the sale agreement the SFA is leased back to the MOD until the Department no longer has a use for it.

MOD is required to accommodate entitled personnel within 10 miles of their duty station (or 20 miles with the permission of their service commander). Where no suitable SFA can be found, substitute SFA (SSFA) is offered within the appropriate distance from a duty station.

The expenditure in the last six years is shown in the following table. Information in respect of 2001-02 SSFA is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of ex-spouses who have overstayed the 90 days notice to vacate period as a result of the breakdown of an armed forces marriage; how many of these who overstayed had children; and how many have subsequently been evicted. (172558)

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.