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Army: Premature Voluntary Release Numbers
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many Premature Voluntary Releases have taken place in the Army in each of the years from 1985 to the present, for (a) Non-Commissioned Officers, and (b) Commissioned Officers, and what they predict those figures will be in each of the next two years.
Earl Howe: Figures for Premature Voluntary Releases (PVR) before 1986 are not available. It is not possible to separate Non-Commissioned Officers from the overall soldier figures. However, PVR rates for officers and soldiers on the Notice Engagement are as follows:
| Officers | Soldiers | |
| 1986 | 691 | 2,656 |
| 1987 | 725 | 3,345 |
| 1988 | 692 | 3,980 |
| 1989 | 766 | 4,124 |
| 1990 | 690 | 3,376 |
| 1991 | 576 | 2,487 |
| 1992 | 314 | 2,153 |
| 1993 | 191 | 1,757 |
| 1994 | 254 | 1,620 |
| 19951 | 250 | 1,006 |
1 December figures not available.
Predicted PVR exits for the next two years are as follows:
| Officers | Soldiers | |
| 1996 | 353 | 1,728 |
| 1997 | 378 | 1,620 |
Armed Forces: Specialist Medical Services
Lord Craig of Radley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the reported delay in finding urgently needed special care facilities anywhere in the National Health Service for one of four injured airmen following their ejection from Tornado aircraft near Sleaford on 10 January 1996, better arrangements are now required to replace those which followed the reductions made by the Defence Costs study of 1994 and earlier cuts in Service medical support.
Earl Howe: Our plans for the Defence Medical Services ensure that the standards of medical care for the Armed Forces continue to equal the best provided under the National Health Service. The casualties in this incident received appropriate and prompt NHS treatment. After his condition had been stabilised at the Lincoln County Hospital, the most seriously injured airman was transferred by helicopter to the Queen's Medical Centre at Nottingham, where he continues to receive excellent care. The Armed Forces have always relied on the NHS to provide the specialist treatment required in such cases, and will continue to do so.
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Leasehold Flats: Measures to Strengthen Owners' Rights
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers): We have received a large number of representations from right honourable and honourable Members and leaseholders, particularly in London, about allegations that some landlords have been behaving unreasonably. The allegations are that a number of landlords have been buying up freeholds of blocks of flats and then presenting the leaseholders with very large maintenance and service charge bills. The amounts demanded appear to be excessive in relation to the work required, and the landlords can make a substantial profit by employing associated surveyors, contractors and managing agents, and earning commission. Any leaseholders who challenge the service charges are met with aggression and intimidation from the landlord and threatened with forfeiture of the lease.
There is already a considerable body of legislation offering safeguards to leaseholders. After careful consideration of these recent developments we have decided, however, that further action should now be taken to strengthen leaseholders' rights.
We therefore propose the following legislative amendments. First, we propose a number of changes to the Right of First Refusal contained in Part I of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 to help ensure that tenants are given the opportunity to exercise this right if their landlord wishes to dispose of his interest. Second, we propose to amend the Leasehold Reform,
22 Jan 1996 : Column WA60
Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 so that qualifying leaseholders will have a right to enfranchise where their block of flats has more than one freehold interest. Third, we propose to give a recognised residents' association a right to challenge major works proposed by their landlord before the work has commenced. Fourth, we propose to amend the law of forfeiture so that forfeiture proceedings are separated from disputes over service charges. Fifth, we propose to strengthen the grounds available to leaseholders seeking to require the court to appoint a manager of their block of flats where the landlord is failing to carry out his obligations in a reasonable manner.
Finally, we are concerned about the costs which leaseholders can face in pursuing their rights through the courts and we are considering the possibility of transferring these disputes over service charges to Leasehold Valuation Tribunals.
We will bring forward amendments to the Housing Bill, which is being introduced today, to give effect to these proposals.
We have today placed a note in the Library of the House which outlines these proposals in more detail.
Land Contaminated by British Coal
Lord Stanley of Alderley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can confirm that the guidance to be published under Section 78F of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will address the position of those who own land contaminated by British Coal upon the service of any remediation notice.
Earl Ferrers: Yes, because there is no difference in principle between land contaminated by British Coal and land contaminated by others.
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