Concern Over State of Marines Accommodation

 

Angus MP Mike Weir has expressed concern at the revelation, in a parliamentary answer to him, that a very large number of the living accommodation for members of 45 Commando are substandard.

 

Mr Weir had asked the MOD for details of the grades of accommodation at the base and has been informed that although 383 were in the highest grade (1) 638 were in the lowest two grades, 3 and 4.

 

“This is an extremely worrying statistic. On the face of it the majority of the accommodation falls below even the average grade, let alone the highest grade.”

 

“The men of 45 Commando have served with distinction in both Iraq and Afghanistan in very difficult and dangerous conditions. It is completely unacceptable if they are returning home to conditions which the Ministry themselves concede are substandard.”

 

“It is simply not good enough for the Ministry of Defence to point to an ongoing programme of upgrading military accommodation, by their own admission it will take around twenty years to complete. “

 

“Much has been said about the Military Covenant in recent months, if it is to mean anything it must mean that servicemen and their families are given decent accommodation “The Ministry of Defence must act to bring the accommodation up to standard as a matter of urgency.”