More Pressure To Improve Service Accommodation

The heads of the Armed Forces families federations are calling for urgent improvements to service accommodation.

During a parliamentary committee meeting to discuss the Armed Forces Covenant, they said that progress is being made in some areas, but claim the standard of service homes is falling short.

There are also fears that - if accommodation isn't improved - this could affect recruitment. 

Group Capt (Rtd) Bill Mahon, Director of the RAF Families Federation, said the government is not investing enough:

"We have young airmen joining the Air Force who are highly qualified, and being accommodated in the equivalent of a prison cell."

The maintenance of service accommodation was also condemned - with the blame falling on the Government’s contract with provider CarillionAmey.

Sara Baade, Chief Executive of the Army Families Federation, said 'CarillionAmey have not done a good job':

"I think we need to take it back one step and say: the budget, the KPIs, the contract they have been working under has not been fit for purpose, in my opinion.

"The families are the ones suffering."

CarillionAmey is still in charge of maintenance, in spite of the collapse of its parent company, Carillion.

A spokesperson they told Forces News:

"Performance has improved and now meets, for the most part, key contractual targets.

"However, there are some specific issues in certain locations, which are being managed closely.

"CarillionAmey understands that sometimes things can go wrong, and we aim to respond as quickly as possible when they do."