Government must safeguard our forces

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee’s report into the Ministry of Defence’s contract with Annington Property Ltd ("Forces homes deal disastrous for taxpayers and worse could follow"), Liberal Democrat Armed Forces Spokesperson, Jamie Stone MP, said: “The UK’s armed forces play a crucial role in the defence of the nation, and Liberal Democrats believe that it is the role of government to safeguard the interests of service personnel and veterans. "Not only has this deal cost taxpayers billions, the lack of clarity around future negotiations adds to the uncertainty faced by many forces families who have for far too long endured poor standards of subsidised accommodation. "The MoD needs to clarify its negotiating position and bring coherence to its strategy. The Department must treat the quality of housing it provides as a priority. The number of empty properties must be reduced and all armed forces families ought to be able to expect service family accommodation of a high quality.”