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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Forces housing 'must be improved' | Forces housing 'must be improved' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government has acknowledged more needs to be done to improve housing for the armed forces following criticism of conditions by a senior army officer. | The government has acknowledged more needs to be done to improve housing for the armed forces following criticism of conditions by a senior army officer. |
| Adjutant-general Lt Gen Freddie Viggers condemned cramped and decaying living quarters in barracks, saying soldiers and their families deserved better. | Adjutant-general Lt Gen Freddie Viggers condemned cramped and decaying living quarters in barracks, saying soldiers and their families deserved better. |
| Defence Minister Derek Twigg said he accepted accommodation was "not perfect" and improvements were needed. | Defence Minister Derek Twigg said he accepted accommodation was "not perfect" and improvements were needed. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said the government should be doing more. | Conservative leader David Cameron said the government should be doing more. |
| Gen Viggers became the second senior officer to speak out publicly on the issue after BBC News received photographs showing cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes in barracks. | Gen Viggers became the second senior officer to speak out publicly on the issue after BBC News received photographs showing cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes in barracks. |
| It's a key issue in what we call the military covenant - giving our soldiers and their families what they deserve in return for that they do for us Gen Freddie Viggers Send us your experiences | It's a key issue in what we call the military covenant - giving our soldiers and their families what they deserve in return for that they do for us Gen Freddie Viggers Send us your experiences |
| "The issue we have is that there is still too much accommodation which is of a poor standard, which is old, and which is not modern in the way it's fitted for families," Gen Viggers said. | "The issue we have is that there is still too much accommodation which is of a poor standard, which is old, and which is not modern in the way it's fitted for families," Gen Viggers said. |
| Last month, outgoing Army head Gen Sir Mike Jackson said some forces accommodation was "frankly shaming". | Last month, outgoing Army head Gen Sir Mike Jackson said some forces accommodation was "frankly shaming". |
| "It's a key issue in what we call the military covenant - giving our soldiers and their families what they deserve in return for that they do for us," he said. | "It's a key issue in what we call the military covenant - giving our soldiers and their families what they deserve in return for that they do for us," he said. |
| Sir Freddie says the state of some barracks is of a "poor standard" | Sir Freddie says the state of some barracks is of a "poor standard" |
| Jennifer James, the mother of a young soldier, said: "We treat prisoners better than our soldiers." | Jennifer James, the mother of a young soldier, said: "We treat prisoners better than our soldiers." |
| Her son complains about the smell, puddles and leaking toilets, which left many soldiers feeling "depressed and demoralised", she added. | Her son complains about the smell, puddles and leaking toilets, which left many soldiers feeling "depressed and demoralised", she added. |
| Forces' manifesto | Forces' manifesto |
| The Ministry of Defence said £1bn was being spent over 10 years to improve forces accommodation. | The Ministry of Defence said £1bn was being spent over 10 years to improve forces accommodation. |
| But Mr Twigg accepted that improvements were needed quickly. | But Mr Twigg accepted that improvements were needed quickly. |
| The government had "a sustained programme of investment in accommodation", he said. | The government had "a sustained programme of investment in accommodation", he said. |
| Gary Durban sent this picture of his family's accommodation in Bicester | Gary Durban sent this picture of his family's accommodation in Bicester |
| "We've spent £700m last year in improving service accommodation. | "We've spent £700m last year in improving service accommodation. |
| "We recognise there is a challenge, we recognise that the accommodation is not perfect and that we need to improve it." | "We recognise there is a challenge, we recognise that the accommodation is not perfect and that we need to improve it." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said: "They do so much for us and frankly we should do more for them." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said: "They do so much for us and frankly we should do more for them." |
| He said the Tories planned to announce a "manifesto for forces families" addressing issues such as housing and education. | He said the Tories planned to announce a "manifesto for forces families" addressing issues such as housing and education. |
| Mr Cameron also called for urgent action to improve accommodation for service people at RAF Brize Norton, which is in his constituency. | Mr Cameron also called for urgent action to improve accommodation for service people at RAF Brize Norton, which is in his constituency. |
| Douglas Young, of the British Armed Forces Federation, which represents forces staff, said there were big variations in standards of accommodation. | Douglas Young, of the British Armed Forces Federation, which represents forces staff, said there were big variations in standards of accommodation. |
| Some very good work was being done to upgrade accommodation but all accommodation should be brought up to that standard, he said. | Some very good work was being done to upgrade accommodation but all accommodation should be brought up to that standard, he said. |
| Gen Viggers is the latest senior military figure to speak out about issues affecting the armed forces. | |
| Last month former Army commander General Sir Michael Rose accused the government of putting soldiers at "considerable and quite unnecessary risk" with cuts in defence spending. |