SOUTH West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison joined colleagues to help 100 Ministry of Defence tenants facing eviction from their homes.

They met Defence Minister Jeremy Quin last week to discuss the issue, whereby the MoD wants to hand back the houses to Annington Homes under a leaseback deal signed in 1996.

The arrangement has the immediate potential to affect 100 Wiltshire households, some of them in Dr Murrison's constituency.

Dr Murrison said: “The Minister has engaged positively with MPs whose constituents this affects.

"However, I agree with my colleagues that the MoD should withdraw its notices to evict and work with Annington to secure the tenancies for the longer term. The MoD housing estate must drive down voids given the lack of housing in Wiltshire.

"I encourage a conversation with the council and local social housing providers aimed at taking on housing stock that’s no longer needed by the MoD whilst preserving the integrity of the defence housing estate for service families that rely on it.”

According to Mr Quin, speaking on Thursday October 15 in the House of Commons, the stimulus for the evictions relates to a big market rate discount the MoD earned on the Annington deal.

It was designed to last 25 years expiring next year and potentially exposing the MoD and tenants to big rent increases.

The MoD previously agreed to extend eviction notices by 12 months, particularly important in the current crisis.