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| MPs condemn 'appalling' barracks | MPs condemn 'appalling' barracks |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Some armed forces housing remains in an "appalling condition" and could take decades to be brought up to scratch, according to a report by MPs. | Some armed forces housing remains in an "appalling condition" and could take decades to be brought up to scratch, according to a report by MPs. |
| It warns the Ministry of Defence not to take money from the housing budget at times of financial pressure. | It warns the Ministry of Defence not to take money from the housing budget at times of financial pressure. |
| The worst barracks accommodation should be put right "as a priority" but the challenge was "enormous," it said. | The worst barracks accommodation should be put right "as a priority" but the challenge was "enormous," it said. |
| The MoD welcomed the recognition of good work carried out, but said some "problem areas" still needed work. | The MoD welcomed the recognition of good work carried out, but said some "problem areas" still needed work. |
| The Commons defence committee report says Defence Estates - which manages the MoD's buildings and land - has done "much good work," but has to raise its game. It also says much more investment is needed. | The Commons defence committee report says Defence Estates - which manages the MoD's buildings and land - has done "much good work," but has to raise its game. It also says much more investment is needed. |
| 'Extremely poor' | 'Extremely poor' |
| It says, despite "considerable progress", some single living accommodation - barracks for single personnel - is in an "extremely poor condition". | It says, despite "considerable progress", some single living accommodation - barracks for single personnel - is in an "extremely poor condition". |
| The Project Slam modernisation programme has created more than 6,000 new bed spaces with another 3,000 planned and new accommodation is "first rate", the committee says. | The Project Slam modernisation programme has created more than 6,000 new bed spaces with another 3,000 planned and new accommodation is "first rate", the committee says. |
| But some blocks remained "appalling" and should be put right as a priority, it said. | But some blocks remained "appalling" and should be put right as a priority, it said. |
| Service personnel and their families should not have to put up with run-down buildings and a poor service for repairs James ArbuthnotCommittee chairman | Service personnel and their families should not have to put up with run-down buildings and a poor service for repairs James ArbuthnotCommittee chairman |
| In family housing repairs had been sub-contracted to a private company, but the level of service was "unacceptably poor", the committee said. | In family housing repairs had been sub-contracted to a private company, but the level of service was "unacceptably poor", the committee said. |
| "During our visits we encountered an attitude of resignation to poor maintenance of married quarters." | "During our visits we encountered an attitude of resignation to poor maintenance of married quarters." |
| It added that contracting out responsibility for maintenance "seems to have left widespread confusion about how to get things done". | It added that contracting out responsibility for maintenance "seems to have left widespread confusion about how to get things done". |
| MPs also said there was an "alarming lack of recognition at senior levels that these problems are more than minor difficulties". | MPs also said there was an "alarming lack of recognition at senior levels that these problems are more than minor difficulties". |
| Homes sold off | Homes sold off |
| It noted that when family accommodation - most of which is now owned by Annington Homes Ltd and rented back to the MoD - is sold off, the share of proceeds that the government gets back is not reinvested in the MoD but goes to the Treasury. | It noted that when family accommodation - most of which is now owned by Annington Homes Ltd and rented back to the MoD - is sold off, the share of proceeds that the government gets back is not reinvested in the MoD but goes to the Treasury. |
| The committee's Conservative chairman James Arbuthnot said Defence Estates was working hard to maintain and improve accommodation, but the MoD must give it a higher priority. | The committee's Conservative chairman James Arbuthnot said Defence Estates was working hard to maintain and improve accommodation, but the MoD must give it a higher priority. |
| BBC News was sent pictures of poor forces accommodation | BBC News was sent pictures of poor forces accommodation |
| "Service personnel and their families should not have to put up with run-down buildings and a poor service for repairs, especially at a time when we are asking the armed forces to put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. | "Service personnel and their families should not have to put up with run-down buildings and a poor service for repairs, especially at a time when we are asking the armed forces to put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. |
| Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth said he was pleased the good work that had been done had been recognised, but added: "I acknowledge that there are problem areas of the estate which require significant work". | Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth said he was pleased the good work that had been done had been recognised, but added: "I acknowledge that there are problem areas of the estate which require significant work". |
| "We are making progress in upgrading our housing and accommodation - a big task considering that we manage some 71,000 family properties and 165,000 bed-spaces worldwide. | "We are making progress in upgrading our housing and accommodation - a big task considering that we manage some 71,000 family properties and 165,000 bed-spaces worldwide. |
| "It's also a big task because we are trying to reverse a legacy of decades of under-funding - over the next 10 years we will spend £5bn on housing and other living accommodation." | "It's also a big task because we are trying to reverse a legacy of decades of under-funding - over the next 10 years we will spend £5bn on housing and other living accommodation." |
| 'Shameful' | |
| Lib Dem shadow defence secretary Nick Harvey said the government was not honouring the military covenant - the obligation to support people who fight for the country. | |
| He said: "It is shameful that the government is unable to provide something as fundamental as an acceptable standard of housing. | |
| "It is becoming increasingly obvious that the military covenant is not just broken, it is in tatters." | |
| The defence committee report comes a day after the Royal British Legion launched a campaign demanding better treatment for the UK's armed forces. | |
| Last year the former head of the Army General Sir Mike Jackson said some accommodation was "frankly shaming". | Last year the former head of the Army General Sir Mike Jackson said some accommodation was "frankly shaming". |
| In January BBC News received photos of barracks and shower blocks with cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes. | In January BBC News received photos of barracks and shower blocks with cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes. |