Commenting on the publication of the Commons Public Accounts Committee report today (Tuesday) on service families accommodation, SNP Westminster leader and party Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, called for action over the poor condition and management of the MoD housing stock. Mr Robertson contrasted the service housing underinvestment with the £4.3bn defence underspend in Scotland.
Mr Robertson said:
“Downing Street already face questions over the support our troops are getting on the frontline, but this report shows that our forces and their families are being let down back at home as well.
“With a third of families rating their accommodation as poor there has clearly been underinvestment in the service housing stock – a fact that literally brings home the impact of the £4.3bn defence underspend in Scotland which has seen 9,500 defence jobs disappear since Labour came to power.
“Our service personnel deserve homes fit for heroes. The Ministry of Defence must act on this report and improve both the condition of service families accommodation, and also the management of its stock.”
1. A copy of the Select Committee report can be found at:
http://www.publications.
2. Figures from the Ministry of Defence confirm a £4.3bn defence underspend in Scotland between 2002 and 2007, underlined by evidence that 9,500 defence jobs have been lost in Scotland since Labour came to power.
MoD Expenditure in Scotland for years available:
http://www.publications.
GERS Estimates of Scottish Defence expenditure 2002-07 available:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/
Historic Job Levels available:
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