Thread: *IMPORTANT* Post-service Housing

This matter is dealt with on a thread concurrently running on ARRSE (see here), but the Early Day Motion needs all the support it can get, so please do write to your MP:

Originally Posted by hitback

Get off your arrse in the new year and support our young and older service personnel who need social housing when they leave the service. The current legislation discriminates against service personnel and puts them at a distinct disadvantage when competing with civilians. An early day motion is currently being signed by MPs which if carried, will help change this legislation, but we need more of them to sign it if we are to get the government to take notice. We now need your support to get this through. Go to http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm to find your MP and then Email your MP asking for support for this EDM. Come on ARRSERS, get of your arrse and give us some support!.

If you wish, you could always take this simple letter and copy and paste it to your MP via the link. Don't forget to place their name and yours in the pasted letter.

Dear *******

The following EDM 288 has been tabled in the House of Commons. I believe our armed forces should be given all the support they require for their civilian transition, and housing is a fundamental requirement. I hope you will show your support by signing EDM 288.

Yours sincerely,

*************

To find out who your MP is, put your post-code in here.

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Done Dozy, thanks!

Done, and could this be made a sticky?

Like to see a few more 'dones' on this one.

Done

Done-I never thought I'd ever be sending an email to Rt Hon William Hague! But I have now, hope I dont get into trouble.
Its not like I am attending a CND rally or inviting the BBC to look at my minging army house or anything.

Originally Posted by MrsB

Its not like I am attending a CND rally or inviting the BBC to look at my minging army house or anything.

Nice one MrsB! :lol:

Well done to all those who've pinged off an email - to the rest of you: get emailing!

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Forgot to add mine!

Sent to 4 MPs, 1 from home town, 1 from where our house is ,and 2 that cover Tidworth.

done

Update
Got a letter this morning from Rt Hon William Hague!!
It says that rather than signing Early Day Motions, he prefers to take up constituents concerns directly with the Minister in question.

So my copy and pasted email is now on its way to Rt Hon Des Browne MP!

I never thought I'd be into politics.

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Good to hear MrsB! My MP is an Under-Secretary of State, so he can't sign EDMs but he's forwarded it on to The Rt Hon Adam Ingram MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

Any more for any more?

Ladies, gentlemen, others...

I forgot to copy this over from ARRSE on Monday (well I tried, then my connection died and I forgot to retry once the connection was re-established! ops: ), but there's still plenty of time for you and all of your friends and family members to lobby the government about this issue.

A petition to the Prime Minister is available for you to electronically sign at the address below:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/forceshousing/

'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to change current housing legislation to stop the discrimination against service personnel when they retire from the armed forces.'

It takes mere seconds and could affect you and your families in years to come.

Petition signed.

Thank you DozyBint. A big thank you to all those that have signed the petition and emailed their MP.

MrsB well done, but Mr Hague MP is making excuses, he has sponsored two EDMs and supported one, a grand total of three. His name on EDM 288 would be a big move forward. If you wouldn't mind emailing him back and asking him to support his own party member Mrs Nadine Dorries MP on EDM 288. The bigger the names on the EDM the better the coverage.

I would urge anyone reading this thread to email their MP and ask them to sign EDM 288. The petition also requires names, so please sign it and pass onto your friends and family.

Regards
Hitback

EDM 288

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...05&SESSION=885

Petition

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/forceshousing/?showall=1

RBL Link to Peteion and EDM Letter to send to MP.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513626.shtml

All done

I received the following from the AFF, as I said they're pushing this issue and others.

I have sent an email to a Minister in the House and await his reply. I shall place it on here when I get it. We know only too well how this government twists and turns when we require answers and action.

When you read the statement below, you will see how the government and its' body of the DCLG is stalling this issue. I have spent two years chasing this issue up, the government has tried everything possible to close doors on me.
The fact I have more support now from the following groups; RBL, BAFF, AFF, Shelter and of course all those users of the E-Goat, Rum Ration, Rear Party, Arrse and the armynet, only re-enforces the importance of getting this legislation changed.

ADMIN, would you please make this a sticky.

Regards
Hitback

From AFF

I spoke to the MOD today about various different housing matters that included your issue of ‘local connection’.

MOD are aware of an increase in interest (although this means they spend more time answering MP’s questions and not moving forward – a point they constantly make to me…!) and are working to find a resolution. As I already told you this topic is covered quite regularly (on my prompting) but as you’re also aware it requires a change to primary legislation which is a slow process.

MOD says that they are waiting for a response from DCLG to their questions. The concern is that DCLG will come back with a long list of further questions which will delay things but hopefully there will be an indication of what they’re prepared to do. The really good thing is that it has support from the Services so we just have to keep pushing although I think it will also continue to be frustratingly slow.

Email sent to my MP and petition signed.

I sent the following email to the FOIcommons@parliament yesterday; This is all with reference to the the above statement by the AFF. The fact is the MoD don't change legislation Ministers do, so by Ministers asking questions will not affect the speed inwhich this issue is being addressed. I believe there has been very little discussion going on between the MoD and the DCLG about the local connection rule for military personnel. I will be going to the House of Commons next week to discuss this issue.

THANKS FOR SIGNING THE PETITION AND EMAILING YOUR MP. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE.


Regards
Hitback


Email sent to FOI

I would like to obtain copies of the actual documents, and copies of correspondence between the departments of the MoD and the DCLG. With reference to housing provisions for service personnel leaving the forces and requiring social housing. This matter covers the Homelessness Legislation local connection rule, which only applies to Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
Any cost for post etc, then please inform me.
Thank you for your help in this matter.

Regards
Mr Nick C



Tabled questions By MP
Mrs Nadine Dorries MP has also tabled the two following questions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations has he received from the Department for Communities and Local Government, regarding the housing needs of serving and former members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations has she received from the Department for Defence, regarding the housing needs of serving and former members of the armed forces; and if she will make a statement.