Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, has today asked Defence Minister Johnny Mercer about the state of accommodation for members of the armed forces.
During Defence questions, Drax asked whether the Minister was happy that military homes reached the required standard, saying, “A key factor in retaining members of our armed forces is the state of their accommodation. As a former Guards officer based at Wellington barracks, I hear rumours that they are not good.”
Mr Mercer replied, “This Government are putting more money than ever before into armed forces accommodation. I am clear that some of the accommodation we ask our personnel to live in is nowhere near good enough. We have a new programme of inspections and we are determined to get a grip on the issue. I am confident that in the next 12 to 24 months, servicemen and women in this country will see a significant uplift in the standard of their accommodation.”
“This is welcome news,” says Drax. “South Dorset is home to many military families. We promised improvements to life for the Armed Forces in our manifesto; upgrading accommodation for those who serve must rank highly amongst them.”
“The men and women who fight for this country must feel that their service is valued and appreciated; the first thing we can do is to ensure that they and their families have somewhere appropriate and suitable to live.”
“That, along with ensuring that they no longer face vexatious legal claims in the absence of new evidence, will go a long way towards encouraging recruitment and retention of what is still the finest fighting force in the world.”