Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Service Accommodation

Monday 20 May 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Defence Infrastructure Organisation's accommodation budget has not yet been finalised for 2024-25.
  • Forces Help to Buy covers conveyancing costs to assist service personnel in purchasing property.
  • The government has committed an additional 400 million towards military housing upgrades.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Defence
Context

The question follows reports of challenging financial conditions at the DIO leading to prioritization of urgent repairs over modifications that assist those with disabilities.

Question

What is the budget for the maintenance of service accommodation for 2024-25? A constituent who had abdominal surgery was refused any kind of modification despite being unable to climb in and out of their bath, highlighting the real impact on servicemen's lives.

Answer from James Cartlidge

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation's accommodation budget has not yet been finalised. An additional £400 million was announced last July, and over 10 years there will be an extra £4 billion investment due to the commitment to 2.5%. If the hon. Lady has a specific case, she can write about it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to ensuring decent accommodation for those who serve.

How: If The Hon. Lady Has A Specific Case, She Can Write About It.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Housing Veterans
Context

The question addresses support for service members in acquiring home ownership.

Question

What support is there in the modernised accommodation offer to help soldiers, sailors and pilots get on the housing ladder?

Answer from James Cartlidge

Forces Help to Buy has been successful. Recent support includes covering conveyancing costs, as getting on the property ladder involves not just purchase but ancillary costs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit specifically to supporting service personnel in home ownership beyond existing initiatives.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Caroline Ansell Con
Defence Housing
Context

The Kerslake commission's report found that the majority of service personnel are dissatisfied with their living conditions.

Question

Given the Kerslake commission's findings, can the Minister honestly look service families in the eye and say military housing is good enough? One-third of service personnel live in low-grade accommodation.

Answer from James Cartlidge

We have invested an additional £400 million, leading to upgrades and dealing with issues like damp and mould. The commitment to 2.5% will bring another £4 billion over a decade, which Labour cannot match.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if military housing meets acceptable standards.

How: Armed Forces Personnel Know That Labour Cannot Deliver The Same Commitment To 2.5%.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)