Asbestos found in 70pc of MoD homes for forces’ families

MORE than 70 per cent of homes run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) contain asbestos, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

The Liberal Democrats, which obtained the figures, said the revelation would worry Armed Forces families because of the “woeful maintenance” of military housing.

The MoD is responsible for 47,949 housing properties across the country. It owns 9,713 and leases an additional 38,236 from Annington Homes.

Responding to a freedom of information request from the Lib Dems, the MoD said 34,437 properties – 72 per cent of the total – “have been assessed as containing low risk asbestos”.

The department said that “low risk” meant the material is “contained within Artex coatings on ceilings” and “is considered safe if not disturbed”.

It added: “MoD have robust management procedures around managing asbestos on the defence estate that meet statutory and Health and Safety Executive requirements.”

But Richard Foord, the Lib Dem defence spokesman and a former Army major, said that service families might continue to have concerns because of the poor state of MoD housing.

Mr Foord said: “Being told that this is low risk if not disturbed will come as little comfort to armed forces families, given that the often woeful maintenance of MoD properties has resulted in deteriorating housing stock.

“The Defence Secretary must come to Parliament and reassure families in MoD housing they are safe. ”

An MoD spokesman said: “The Defence Secretary has made it a personal priority to improve the quality of military accommodation, and work is under way to improve housing standards across the estate.”