MP wants better homes deal for military

AN angry Warrington MP has hit out at changes in the local housing allowance which means that released prisoners get a better deal than armed forces personnel.
Warrington South MP David Mowat complained in the House of Commons that military men and women lose up to £37.61 a week as a result of the changes.
Under those changes, serving and former squaddies or other military personnel can only claim the shared room rate, which in North Cheshire is currently £53,54 a week, compared with the £91.15 single flat allowance.
The only exemptions to the rule are homeless people in hostels and offenders being released from prison.
Mr Mowat (pictured) urged that the exemption should be extended to military personnel including those “facing redundancy” under current Ministry of Defence cutbacks.
After his Commons intervention, Mr Mowat said: “Servicemen and women returning from active service deserve to be treated fairly when they seek to set up homes for themselves and their families.
“It is right that the homeless and prisoners released on licence should be helped, but that should also apply to those military personnel who have risked everything for their country.”
Armed forces minster Andrew Robathan said: “We are keeping an eye on such issues. We will take a look at how we can best serve our personnel.”
But he added: “They should not be equated with the licensing of prisoners.”
Mr Mowat has championed the cause of military personnel previously when he campaigned successfully to stop teenage soldiers being excluded from pubs and clubs because of a row over ID cards.