Armed Forces: Housing

Mr. Baron
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 21 January 2008, Official Report, column 1580W, on armed forces: housing, how many of the extra 30,000 single living accommodation bed-spaces planned by 2013 he expects to be (a) new and (b) improved bed-spaces.

Derek Twigg
[holding answer 31 January 2008]: The Ministry of Defence has a target to upgrade 30,000 single living accommodation (SLA) bed-spaces to the top condition grade (grade 1) by 2013 and for budgeting purposes, it is assumed that these bed-spaces will be new build. However, existing SLA may be upgraded to grade 1 standard where it is more economic to do so.