Armed forces to live in poor housing "for 20 years"

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - More than 40 percent of those in the armed forces with families live in sub-standard accommodation and some personnel will be based in poor quality housing for the next 20 years, a report said on Friday.

The National Audit Office, the independent spending watchdog, said despite substantial amounts invested by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), more needed to be done to improve living conditions.

"Praise is rightly bestowed on our armed forces for their achievements in very difficult circumstances," said Edward Leigh, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

"It is not right that, here in the UK, they should have to put up with shabby living and working quarters."

The MoD is the second largest landowner in Britain and its worldwide estate is valued at 18 billion pounds.

But recently senior military figures have accused the government of not providing enough resources for troops, particularly citing out-of-date housing as a problem.

They warned that it could deter potential recruits from joining the armed services at a time when forces were stretched with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In January Lieutenant General Freddie Viggers, who is in charge of housing, said there was too much accommodation that was old and of poor standard.