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Tory minister: Bedroom tax to affect very few soldiers

Conservative Defense Minister Mark Francois said that 'very few' soldiers will be affected by the so-called 'Bedroom tax'. Credit: PA

The so called "bedroom tax" will affect a "really quite small" number of Armed Forces families, Conservative Defense Minister Mark Francois said today.

"It's believed that very few, if any full time personnel will be affected by the DWP's new policy as the overwhelming majority will be living in service accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence," Mr Francois said.

His comments came in response to Labour claims that some Armed Forces families would be "punished" by the deficit-tackling initiative.

Speaking in the Commons, shadow defence minister Gemma Doyle added:

"So now that we know that some Armed Forces families will be punished by the bedroom tax, why does he [Francois] think that the families of prisoners and the families of students should have a year's exemption but not Armed Forces families?"