Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Service Accommodation 2024-05-20 (2)

Monday 20 May 2024 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Around 96% of service family accommodation meets or exceeds the Government's decent homes standard.
  • MOD dental healthcare provides dentistry for armed forces personnel, while NHS cares for civilians including families of service personnel.
  • The investment of 400 million is improving service accommodation by addressing issues like damp, mould, and installing new boilers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Defence Veterans
Context

The adequacy of service family accommodation is being assessed.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of service accommodation for armed forces personnel?

Answer from James Cartlidge

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.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Selaine Saxby
NHS Defence
Context

Chivenor sees personnel stationed there for shorter periods of time than many other military bases, causing challenges with local providers.

Question

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?

Answer from James Cartlidge

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether additional support would be provided at high-turnaround bases specifically.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Sarah Edwards Lab Tamworth
Policing & Resources Defence
Context

The Department is continuing to sell off service accommodation, including at Whittington in Tamworth.

Question

Does the Minister accept that selling off service accommodation can contribute to lower recruitment and retention levels?

Answer from James Cartlidge

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether selling off service accommodation impacts recruitment and retention levels, but discussed improvements made with funds.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
NHS Defence
Context

A recent landmark report found poor quality military accommodation to be a tax on the goodwill of service personnel.

Question

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?

Answer from James Cartlidge

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.

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether poor quality military accommodation is a tax on goodwill; instead suggested the report's conclusions and funding commitments.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Get updates like this by email