Service Accommodation 2024-05-20 (2)
2024-05-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The adequacy of service family accommodation is being assessed.
What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of service accommodation for armed forces personnel?
Currently, around 96% of service family accommodation meets or exceeds the Government's decent homes standard. Only these properties should be allocated to our families.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Chivenor sees personnel stationed there for shorter periods of time than many other military bases, causing challenges with local providers.
Will the hon. Friend consider additional support for high turnaround bases such as RM Chivenor, perhaps including access to dental services where families face issues registering with local providers?
MOD dental healthcare provides dentistry for our armed forces personnel, ensuring they are dentally fit. NHS provides care for civilians, including families of service personnel. The Minister is willing to arrange a meeting between the hon. Friend and MOD dental healthcare.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not address whether additional support would be provided at high-turnaround bases specifically.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Department is continuing to sell off service accommodation, including at Whittington in Tamworth.
Does the Minister accept that selling off service accommodation can contribute to lower recruitment and retention levels?
The investment of £400 million is making a difference by putting in treatments for damp, mould, new doors, boilers. The commitment to 2.5% funding shows the importance of improving armed forces personnel's homes.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address whether selling off service accommodation impacts recruitment and retention levels, but discussed improvements made with funds.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
A recent landmark report found poor quality military accommodation to be a tax on the goodwill of service personnel.
Does the Minister agree with the report that poor quality military accommodation has become a tax on the goodwill of service personnel and their families?
The Minister welcomes receiving the report but suggests it might not be impartial. He assumes it recommends committing 2.5% funding for better accommodation, recognising that good accommodation requires investment.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address whether poor quality military accommodation is a tax on goodwill; instead suggested the report's conclusions and funding commitments.
Response accuracy