Jul 16 - Royal Gibraltar Regiment Soldiers To Benefit From New Housing Agreement
The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, and Commodore Ian McGhie, Commander British Forces, have announced that an agreement has been reached to provide Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) Permanent Cadre (PC) personnel with the opportunity to benefit from all future affordable housing schemes initiatives in Gibraltar.
These arrangements will permit all RG PC, inclusive of non-Gibraltarians, to go onto the Gibraltar Housing Allocation Schemes waiting lists, subject to defined conditions. Gibraltarians will be eligible upon enlistment whilst Non-Gibraltarian registered soldiers will only be permitted to benefit from the housing stock after they have served for 4 1⁄2 years.
The Government will also introduce provisions to assist RG PC personnel who are posted away from Gibraltar with their dependants. These provisions include rent relief on Government rental stock, the retention of their property and relaxation of rental rules for soldiers who are private home owners to allow them to rent their property, should they wish to do so, for the period that they are posted outside of Gibraltar.
The MOD is to introduce a number of initiatives that will further improve the conditions of service for eligible RG PC personnel in regard to single living accommodation in Gibraltar and entitlements to service family accommodation when posted overseas.
A Government statement ended: “These new arrangements will ensure that the brave men and women serving within the Regiment are given housing provision that secures their future and is a tangible demonstration of the commitment by the Government and MOD to the future role and development of the Regiment.”
Speaking earlier today Commodore McGhie said: “This announcement will massively help morale and the retention of Regiment soldiers. This move is indicative of the strong, positive working relationship between the Government and the MOD.”
Ivor Lopez, the CO of the Gibraltar Regiment, said: “This is something our soldiers require and we are very grateful for this initiative.”
{fcomment}
