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Service families let down by standard of housing, MPs say Service families let down by standard of housing, MPs say
(about 9 hours later)
Armed forces families are being given poor housing and are often left without basic facilities such as hot water and heating, MPs have said.Armed forces families are being given poor housing and are often left without basic facilities such as hot water and heating, MPs have said.
The Ministry of Defence and its contractor Carillion Amey were "badly letting down service families", a Public Accounts Committee report said.The Ministry of Defence and its contractor Carillion Amey were "badly letting down service families", a Public Accounts Committee report said.
The committee said the contractor's performance was "totally unacceptable".The committee said the contractor's performance was "totally unacceptable".
Ministers said they would not hesitate to act against Carillion Amey, but the company said things were improving.Ministers said they would not hesitate to act against Carillion Amey, but the company said things were improving.
The MoD manages 50,000 properties for personnel, who are offered subsidised housing.The MoD manages 50,000 properties for personnel, who are offered subsidised housing.
The committee said it was right that the MoD was considering terminating its contract with Carillion Amey.The committee said it was right that the MoD was considering terminating its contract with Carillion Amey.
'Poor service''Poor service'
In some cases, frustration with a failure to carry out repairs may be "driving some highly trained personnel to leave the military, wasting the investment made in them", the committee warned.In some cases, frustration with a failure to carry out repairs may be "driving some highly trained personnel to leave the military, wasting the investment made in them", the committee warned.
It concluded that the MoD's current model for providing accommodation for families was not flexible enough to meet 21st Century needs and arrangements for addressing families' concerns were inadequate.It concluded that the MoD's current model for providing accommodation for families was not flexible enough to meet 21st Century needs and arrangements for addressing families' concerns were inadequate.
Examples given in the report include:Examples given in the report include:
Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said: "Forces families are suffering because of poor service under a contract agreed on terms that were wrong-headed from the start.Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said: "Forces families are suffering because of poor service under a contract agreed on terms that were wrong-headed from the start.
"Responsibility for this lies with both Carillion Amey and the government. The MoD seriously misjudged Carillion Amey's capacity to deliver a service which Carillion Amey accepts it was not equipped to deliver."Responsibility for this lies with both Carillion Amey and the government. The MoD seriously misjudged Carillion Amey's capacity to deliver a service which Carillion Amey accepts it was not equipped to deliver.
"It is completely unacceptable that families should have to move into dirty houses with broken appliances, or be left to care for children in homes without hot water or heating.""It is completely unacceptable that families should have to move into dirty houses with broken appliances, or be left to care for children in homes without hot water or heating."
'Aggressive' plan'Aggressive' plan
Defence minister Mark Lancaster said: "The service our personnel and their families were getting from Carillion Amey was simply not good enough.Defence minister Mark Lancaster said: "The service our personnel and their families were getting from Carillion Amey was simply not good enough.
"They deserve much better, which is why we took swift action once the problems became apparent."They deserve much better, which is why we took swift action once the problems became apparent.
"Carillion Amey rightly apologised and developed an aggressive plan of improvements. Progress is being made, but we will absolutely not hesitate to take further action if they don't deliver.""Carillion Amey rightly apologised and developed an aggressive plan of improvements. Progress is being made, but we will absolutely not hesitate to take further action if they don't deliver."
Carillion Amey managing director Daniel Easthope said its housing service was now "performing well".Carillion Amey managing director Daniel Easthope said its housing service was now "performing well".
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