Concerns over government shifting goalposts on military housing and cadets

Concerns are being raised by an influential group of MPs in Parliament who are worried about plans to delay the refurbishment and replacement of poor standard military housing and the decision to also stretch the timelines on expanding the cadet force.

Speaking to BFBS Forces News, Chair of the Defence Committee Tan Dhesi said: "Our brave servicemen and women deserve decent housing; they deserve the very best. 

"The fact that the government has shifted the goalposts somewhat to later on is concerning," he said. "As, for example, is the investment with regards to the initially proposed expansion of the cadets programme."

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Plans for military housing and cadet expansion have been delayed until 2030–2035.

Antony Cotton, a prominent campaigner for better housing standards for forces' families, branded the delay "very disappointing", but the MOD said it would push ahead with the work, just at a later stage.

Committee seeks answers

Mr Dhesi is calling for defence ministers to appear before the committee as soon as possible so the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which was published earlier this week can be fully scrutinised.

He has also raised concerns that the DIP lacks detail, despite being intended to set out plans for the next decade in just 80 pages.

He added: "That's why the session is very important for us to look into that – it should have been like the previous defence equipment plans.

"We should have had the details, because with detail actually comes certainty, whether it's for the defence industrial base, whether it's for our allies, and it also sends a clear signal to our adversaries that we are very, very serious and we have strategic aims and objectives set out," he continued. 

"So that's why I raised that with the Secretary of State. He didn't answer all of my various questions within the chamber when he was presenting the DIP, but no doubt that he will have the answers, I hope, when we question him in committee evidence sessions."

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis told MPs that the government has made "difficult but necessary" choices to secure additional funding for the Armed Forces.

This followed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement of an extra £15bn in military spending, after former Defence Secretary John Healey resigned when he was offered £13.5bn.

However, it still falls well short of the reported £28bn shortfall, with critics including shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge warning that the DIP is "too little, too late".