Plymouth MP claims soldiers are in barracks that are 'not fit for animals'
Soldiers are living in barracks which are not fit for animals, a Plymouth MP has claimed after a leaked report revealed concerns about fire safety.
Defence Safety Authority inspectors found that cash cuts had led to an "unacceptable degradation" of barracks, the document obtained by the Sun newspaper said.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said all its buildings met fire regulations and £4 billion was being invested on modernising sites across the country.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer and a member of the Commons Defence Committee who represents Plymouth Moor View, told the Sun:
"Animals would not be housed in such dangerous conditions. It is disgraceful how ministers talk up our armed forces at every opportunity, and yet, away from the spotlight, ask our most loyal public servants to endure totally unacceptable and lethal living environments."
DSA director-general Lieutenant-General Richard Felton ordered the report after blazes at Aliwal barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, and Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
The findings in the report on single living accommodation, used by unmarried soldiers, highlighted "faulty equipment" and "broken or unserviceable infrastructure".
Although the review has not been released, its findings are referred to in theDSA's annual report, published in October 2018, which revealed 373 fires reported across the three services in 2017-18.
It noted "the apparent disinvestment or lack of priority afforded to fire safety across our infrastructure is being mirrored in the ambivalence of the very people it is there to protect".
The likelihood of a fire resulting in "significant loss of life, loss of capability and damage to Defence's reputation will remain high" unless those "major weaknesses" are addressed.
The MoD has issued the following statement: