Timeshare holidays for forces urged (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Timeshare holidays for forces urged

11:14am Sunday 10th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Armed forces personnel should be given access to unused timeshare properties and second homes, former defence secretary Liam Fox has said.

He said that from his previous experience as a force's doctor, it was important for morale to keep service personnel families happy. Offering them free holidays was one way of supporting families when the relatives returned from combat.

Dr Fox has set up the charity Give Us Time, in conjunction with Virgin Trains which is offering free travel. the scheme encourages people to donate weeks at their timeshare or in their second home for service families to get away for a holiday when their loved ones return from the frontline.

Speaking to Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News, he said: "It may be a family who has lost a father in combat, it may be someone who is injured back with their family, or just a family who is having difficulty adjusting to post-combat life.

"I think if we are able as a society to help them then so much the better. I think if we are able to do it without any tax-payers' money and the dead hand of government then so much the better."

Dr Fox also said it was "absolutely disgusting" that some home-coming troops were still abused on the streets.