Michael Evans
Download 'Too Hot', an exclusive Specials track from iTunes
Nearly £2 million was spent by the Ministry of Defence on resurfacing tennis courts and building all-weather sports pitches instead of repairing leaking barracks’ roofs.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee revealed that in 2006-07, £13.5 million that was earmarked for maintenance work on poor-quality Service accommodation was deferred as part of MoD budget cuts. But “at least £1.6 million” was put aside “for the refurbishment of sports facilities”.
Edward Leigh, chairman of the committee of MPs, said: “In response to funding cuts, the MoD put off essential maintenance work, but still found cash to build all-weather sports pitches and spruce up tennis courts.” He added: “Nobody is saying it is inappropriate to offer leisure facilities on site, but the department [the MoD] has to get its priorities straight. Let’s mend the leaking roofs first, then worry about the tennis courts.”
Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence, chief executive of Defence Estates and husband of the Princess Royal, admitted: “With the benefit of hindsight, we might look back at one or two of those decisions and think that they look questionable, but at the time it was what the customers wanted.” A plan to use a former RAF base as an immigration detention centre has been abandoned because the accommodation is too poor, defence sources have told The Times. RAF Coltishall in Norfolk was closed in December and handed over to the Home Office.

Sam Coates's blog about Westminster, politics and spin
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£24,250 - £30,346
MI5
London
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
I say if all the people stood up and demanded action it would happen, therefore please have a look at the following petition and sign up to support our men and women:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/supportforces/
thankyou
martin, london,
There are 450 thousand working British Heavy Goods Vehicles. 2 million pounds is comparable to the fuel tax which the government gets from 20 thousand H.G.V.'s working for one day only. Foreign H.G.V.'s come into this country doing our work, using our roads and paying nothing towards our economy
No, I haven't missed the point of the article.
The MoD, NHS, Roads Dept, in fact all government departments should get used to putting essential maintenance first before luxuries because the money will run dry shortly
mt, Lanarkshire,
Admiral Laurence said that 'with the benefit of hindsight' the decision to blow cash on tennis courts rather than service accommodation was questionanable. Wrong sir - Blind Freddy could have seen that the decision was utterly wrong, not questionable. I bet his customers who wanted the new tennis courts weren't staying in that accommodation.
Andrew, New South Wales, Australia
Timothy Laurence, as CEO of Defence Estates, what are your qualifications in estate management, or any property management?
You are qualified to command a ship, you are not a member of the chartered institute of surveyors. You are not a property manager.
You are in fact semi-royal, which gave you the position as vice-admirl, but you are in no way qualified to be in charge of any estate. Indeed, your domestic staff run the estate you share with The Princess Royal.
You Sir, do absolutely NOTHING, others do it for you.
Sack him and employ a qualified CEO to manage the Services Estates. He may be able to Command a Ship, but what does he know about property.
Simon Scott, Preston, UK
Wait minute! The accommodation at RAF Coltishall was inadequate quality for detained immigrants, but it was sufficient for the nation's military personnel? Am I the only one to see something amiss with Government standards?
Bob Evans, Anaheim, California
Shame the MoD and Government wouldn't do something about the accomodation at Coltishall when Servicemen were expected to live there. It beggars belief that yet again people who serve this country are treated far worse than detainees. A true reflection of the esteem that the armed forces are held by this self congratulating bunch of dimwitted, corrupt, venal, spineless, morally bankrupt vermin that have risen to the top of an ignorant political cesspit that this country thinks is 'democracy'. I suggest that that the vote be withdrawn from all who have not carried out 3 years of public service in order that some responsibility be brought back to the right of being British, and whilst we are about it, lets have an answer to the West Lothian question that is acceptable to the English.
Kit, Cambridge, England