Jails 'better than homes' say Devizes MP (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Jails 'better than homes' say Devizes MP

9:06am Thursday 11th November 2010 in Local

Prisoners are housed in better conditions than many soldiers, Devizes MP Claire Perry maintains.

In an article for the Conservative Party house magazine, Mrs Perry used her contact with Army families in Larkhill, Tidworth Netheravon and Upavon to appeal for more investment in decent accommodation .

Mrs Perry wrote: “British military housing has been described as ‘disgraceful’ by the all-party Commons Defence Committee.

“In 2007, the Ministry of Defence admitted that 60 per cent of single-room accommodation for soldiers was sub-standard, a definition that ingored the fact that prisoners are housed in better conditions than many soldiers.”

Mrs Perry said she welcomed Dr Liam Fox’s announcement of a £50million investment in new housing units at Bulford.