The UK government is being urged by an SNP MSP to use around 100 unused homes, formerly used as accommodation for MoD staff, to house refugees fleeing the situation in Afghanistan.
Siobhian Brown (pictured), MSP for Ayr, has said the empty houses can be used to house families in South Ayrshire and that the area is ready to accept and welcome Afghan families.
The homes, which are mostly situated around Prestwick Airport, have been left empty ever since the helicopter search and rescue operation HMS Gannet was decommissioned in 2016.
Earlier this year it was revealed that nearly 11,000 MoD homes were empty across the UK, with 900 unused in Scotland.
Commenting, Siobhian Brown said:
“The UK government should be maximising every opportunity it can to find a home for Afghan refugees fleeing a horrific situation.
“In South Ayrshire, we currently have around 100 homes that are still owned by the MoD but no one has lived in them for at least five years.
“This is an opportunity for the UK government to show its compassion for refugees coming from Afghanistan that they are able to provide them a safe and warm home where they can start to rebuild their lives.
“The UK government must take its share of the responsibility for creating this situation and using disused MoD homes will provide them with an option for a number of families who have had their lives turned upside down.
“Boris Johnson should commit to increasing the number of refugees that the UK brings in and maximising unused sites like the one at Prestwick Airport will allow the UK to take in more refugees and take responsibility for the situation.”
