MoD faces criticism for 8000 empty homes

Almost 8000 homes for Armed Forces families are standing empty despite the Ministry of Defence spending £17m a year renting substitute properties. Figures showed there are currently 7889 unoccupied homes for service families in the UK, including 2077 that have been empty for more than a year. But the MoD has spent more than £88m since 2004 on renting homes where no suitable properties are available, with the bill for 2009 topping £17m. Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Willie Rennie, who uncovered the figures, said: ‘It is scandalous that the Government is spending millions renting forces homes despite already having thousands of houses standing empty.’