§ 18. Mr. Gwyn Prosser (Dover)If he will make a statement on accommodation for (a) single and (b) married members of the British armed forces. [138589]
§ 22. Ms Hazel Blears (Salford)If he will make a statement on accommodation for (a) single and (b) married members of the British armed forces. [138594]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie)The Defence Housing Executive, which manages and allocates service housing for armed forces personnel and their families, is continuing with its modernisation programme of service families accommodation in Great Britain and is on target 633 to complete 3,000 upgrades to standard 1 at a projected cost this financial year of about £68 million. The DHE aims to bring most of its core housing stock—that which is needed in the longer term—up to the standard required over the next five years. We have a firm projects programme and contract strategy in place to ensure that this programme can be achieved.
A review of single living accommodation has been completed recently and steps are being taken to improve the standard of such accommodation across all areas of the Department.
§ Mr. ProsserDoes my hon. Friend accept that the effectiveness of the armed forces is linked closely to 634 morale, which is linked closely to standards of accommodation and conditions, and that there are areas in which accommodation falls way below the standards that we should have in the armed forces? The five-year plan is ambitious and encouraging. Will he do all that he can to accelerate it and put things right as soon as possible?
§ Dr. MoonieI am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. I have recently seen accommodation in some barracks in which I was ashamed to think of our armed forces personnel being housed. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces and I are engaged in constructive discussions with officials to accelerate the programme of upgrading.