‘Prison cell’ quarters deter Forces recruits

LOW-QUALITY military accommodation, which is likened to prison cells, risks driving soldiers, sailors and airmen out of the Armed Forces, MPS have been told.

The standard of Forces housing is becoming a retention factor for personnel and Carillion, which went into liquidation this week, was accused of failing to carry out basic maintenance since taking on the responsibility for 50,000 service family homes.

Bill Mahon, director of the RAF Families Federation, told the Commons defence committee yesterday that there were also issues with single accommodation.

He said: “We have got young airmen joining the Air Force who are highly qualified, technically adept, being sent to work on the fifth-generation aircraft when it arrives, and being accommodated in the equivalent of a prison cell.”

Sara Baade, of the Army Families Federation, said the housing situation was “by far the biggest thing that comes into us, and by far the biggest concern for our families”.