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Brown pledge over forces housing Brown pledge over forces housing
(10 minutes later)
Improvements need to be made to some military accommodation following criticism by a senior army officer, the chancellor has acknowledged.Improvements need to be made to some military accommodation following criticism by a senior army officer, the chancellor has acknowledged.
Gordon Brown said the quality of defence housing was an "issue" but the government has announced a £5bn investment over the next 10 years.Gordon Brown said the quality of defence housing was an "issue" but the government has announced a £5bn investment over the next 10 years.
"We've got to do more and we will do more," he told BBC One's Sunday AM."We've got to do more and we will do more," he told BBC One's Sunday AM.
Mr Brown also said he believed there would be thousands fewer UK troops in Iraq by the end of the year.Mr Brown also said he believed there would be thousands fewer UK troops in Iraq by the end of the year.
Mr Brown's comments on the state of housing for soldiers and their families came after BBC News last week received photos of barracks and shower blocks with cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes.Mr Brown's comments on the state of housing for soldiers and their families came after BBC News last week received photos of barracks and shower blocks with cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes.
The Army's personnel chief Lt Gen Freddie Viggers has already pledged to fight for better accommodation while defence minister Derek Twigg said it was "not perfect, and that we need to improve it".The Army's personnel chief Lt Gen Freddie Viggers has already pledged to fight for better accommodation while defence minister Derek Twigg said it was "not perfect, and that we need to improve it".
We will be putting about £5bn into improving army and defence forces accommodation Gordon Brown Housing 'must improve' Q&A: Forces housing Mr Brown said: "Although most of the accommodation has been brought up to standard, there is more to do. We will be putting about £5bn into improving army and defence forces accommodation Gordon Brown Housing 'must improve' Q&A: Forces housing
Mr Brown said: "Although most of the accommodation has been brought up to standard, there is more to do.
"In the next few weeks there will be more being spent in a new phase of accommodation improvement."In the next few weeks there will be more being spent in a new phase of accommodation improvement.
"And over the next 10 years I think we will be putting about £5bn into improving army and defence forces accommodation.""And over the next 10 years I think we will be putting about £5bn into improving army and defence forces accommodation."
'Iraq review''Iraq review'
The UK has about 7,000 troops in Iraq, most based around the southern city of Basra, but the government is facing calls for them to be withdrawn.The UK has about 7,000 troops in Iraq, most based around the southern city of Basra, but the government is facing calls for them to be withdrawn.
Mr Brown, who is widely expected to take over as prime minister from Tony Blair this year, suggested he would not support increasing British troop numbers in response to any boost in US soldiers in the region.Mr Brown, who is widely expected to take over as prime minister from Tony Blair this year, suggested he would not support increasing British troop numbers in response to any boost in US soldiers in the region.
The chancellor said he had "nothing but admiration" for UK troops, whom he visited in Basra last month. We can over the next few months start to scale down our troop presence in Iraq Gordon Brown The chancellor said he had "nothing but admiration" for UK troops, whom he visited in Basra in November.
We can over the next few months start to scale down our troop presence in Iraq Gordon Brown
He said future UK policy in Iraq "will be the policy we are pursuing now" and it would "continue to move troops from combat to training, to complete the redevelopment work".He said future UK policy in Iraq "will be the policy we are pursuing now" and it would "continue to move troops from combat to training, to complete the redevelopment work".
He added: "We can over the next few months start to scale down our troop presence in Iraq.He added: "We can over the next few months start to scale down our troop presence in Iraq.
"I believe it is true to say that by the end of the year there may be thousands less in Iraq than there are now.""I believe it is true to say that by the end of the year there may be thousands less in Iraq than there are now."
Mr Brown also did not rule out a future review of the government's post-war handling of Iraq and said there were "lessons".Mr Brown also did not rule out a future review of the government's post-war handling of Iraq and said there were "lessons".
He said power should have been handed over to the Iraqis at an earlier date while efforts to win hearts and minds could have formed a greater part of the so-called war on terror.He said power should have been handed over to the Iraqis at an earlier date while efforts to win hearts and minds could have formed a greater part of the so-called war on terror.