MIGRANTS HOUSED FORCES HOMES

Plans to move refugees into military units while 2,500 British veterans are homeless

-  Marco Giannangeli

HUNDREDS of military homes have been set aside for migrants, while at least 2,500 British veterans do not have a roof over their heads.

The Government has been forced to look at the accommodation amid growing resistance to the use of hotels, B&Bs and holiday camps to house the backlog of 143,000 asylum seekers.

One proposal allegedly being actively considered is to utilise homes kept vacant for forces' families as they move between bases.

Last night, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that 550 homes were earmarked for people who moved to the UK after the withdrawal from Afghanistan forced them from their homeland.

They arrived under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy scheme, and their right to stay in this country has already been approved.

However, senior Home Office sources revealed that a separate proposal could lead to a further 500 military homes being used to help the Government fight the wider logjam of asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their claims.

The families would live rent-free while their applications are processed, with subsidised energy bills, mobile phones and £40 a week spending money for all adults. The MoD insists

no meetings have taken place about extending the use of military accommodation to other migrants. A spokesman said: "There are no plans to house asylum seekers in defence accommodation, nor have any discussions taken place between the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office on this issue." But the insider said: "The migrant situation is the Home Office's number one issue and, while there are several plans on the table, many have been reviewed and sunk.