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SNP: Let veterans use MoD’s 1,807 empty homes

THE Ministry of Defence (MoD) should use some of the homes it owns to house veterans struggling with homelessness, the SNP demanded yesterday.

The party argues that the MoD’s disused properties could go to supporting some of the hundreds of former military personnel looking for a home.

Data gathered from a freedom of information request found that the number of empty MoD-owned homes in Scotland has risen by 57 per cent to 1,087 since 2013, from 690.

MoD policy means that some of the homes are left empty to allow for personnel to be moved from different parts of the country, while other properties are sub-let on the private market.

Recent statistics show that 993 veterans made applications to Scottish local authorities to be considered homeless in the past year.

The SNP has now suggested that the homes could be brought back into use, saying the MoD has a “duty of care” to former personnel.

SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald said: “Veterans deserve to be supported by the UK government and it’s tragic that some veterans find themselves homeless.

“It’s not right that those homes lie empty and it is in the MoD’s gift to put them to good use and support ending homelessness.”

A spokeswoman for the MoD said: “While the vast majority of former service personnel transition successfully into civilian life, no-one — including veterans — should spend their lives on the streets.

“The MoD allows veterans who have recently left service to remain in service family accommodation for up to 12 months in order to allow them and their families to adjust to civilian life.”

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