THE quality of army housing has been slammed as unacceptable by a Colchester MP in the House of Commons.

Lib Dem Bob Russell has repeated calls for upgraded accommodation for army families in towns including Colchester.

He said: “Not only do families need our understanding and support, they need decent houses in which to live.

“If we are going to send soldiers to put their lives on the line in Afghanistan, the least we can do is make sure their families back home have decent accommodation to live in.”

Dr Liam Fox, secretary of state for defence, admitted accommodation was one of the greatest issues troubling service families and said the Government would “dearly like to do more”.

He revealed £61.6 million was earmarked to upgrade housing, but added: “We cannot go as far or as fast as we would like in the economic situation we inherited.”

Earlier this year Mr Russell also made calls for army accommodation to be “fit for purpose” but Tony Moran, a press spokesman for Defence Estates, said: “Last year, the MoD upgraded 130 service homes in Colchester, which means more than 90 per cent of homes there in the top two standards for condition.”

Mr Russell had a busy week in Parliament speaking in more debates and asking more questions than any other MP.