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| Troops 'at risk' over helicopters | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A lack of helicopters is undermining UK forces' operations and troop protection in Afghanistan, according to an influential committee of MPs. | A lack of helicopters is undermining UK forces' operations and troop protection in Afghanistan, according to an influential committee of MPs. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said a shortage of the craft has not cost lives, despite rising casualties. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said a shortage of the craft has not cost lives, despite rising casualties. |
| But the Commons defence select committee says commanders "have to use ground transport" - with worrying effects on protection of personnel. | But the Commons defence select committee says commanders "have to use ground transport" - with worrying effects on protection of personnel. |
| It says the government should buy new craft, rather than revamping old ones. | It says the government should buy new craft, rather than revamping old ones. |
| Amid rising UK casualties, critics have claimed troops are ill-equipped. | Amid rising UK casualties, critics have claimed troops are ill-equipped. |
| Chairman of the cross-party committee, James Arbuthnot, said: "Operational commanders in the field today are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters for transportation around the theatre of operations. | Chairman of the cross-party committee, James Arbuthnot, said: "Operational commanders in the field today are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters for transportation around the theatre of operations. |
| Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent |
| This report will certainly be unwelcome news for the government but it stops short of explicitly saying servicemen are dying in Afghanistan through a lack of helicopters. | This report will certainly be unwelcome news for the government but it stops short of explicitly saying servicemen are dying in Afghanistan through a lack of helicopters. |
| It does, though, level a number of serious criticisms which could only be addressed by spending a lot more money. | It does, though, level a number of serious criticisms which could only be addressed by spending a lot more money. |
| The cross-party committee of MPs that wrote it are rightly reluctant to get drawn into party politics over this issue. | The cross-party committee of MPs that wrote it are rightly reluctant to get drawn into party politics over this issue. |
| But their most important finding - that operational commanders in the field are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters - will likely be seized upon by the government's critics. | But their most important finding - that operational commanders in the field are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters - will likely be seized upon by the government's critics. |
| Beyond Westminster, what the public are most likely to remember from this row is the fact that the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, admitted to travelling round Afghanistan in an American helicopter because no British one was available. Helicopters 'are no magic wand' | Beyond Westminster, what the public are most likely to remember from this row is the fact that the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, admitted to travelling round Afghanistan in an American helicopter because no British one was available. Helicopters 'are no magic wand' |
| "We are also concerned that operational commanders find they have to use ground transport, when helicopter lift would be preferred, both for the outcome and for the protection of our forces." | "We are also concerned that operational commanders find they have to use ground transport, when helicopter lift would be preferred, both for the outcome and for the protection of our forces." |
| The government currently plans to extend the lives of ageing Sea King and Puma helicopters. | The government currently plans to extend the lives of ageing Sea King and Puma helicopters. |
| But the committee says this is not the best solution operationally or in terms of value for money and that buying new helicopters is a better option. | But the committee says this is not the best solution operationally or in terms of value for money and that buying new helicopters is a better option. |
| "The Ministry of Defence should seize the opportunity to recognise the importance of helicopters to current and contingent operations, and work towards strengthening all aspects of capability," Mr Arbuthnot added. | "The Ministry of Defence should seize the opportunity to recognise the importance of helicopters to current and contingent operations, and work towards strengthening all aspects of capability," Mr Arbuthnot added. |
| The report had been brought forward in time for the Commons debate on Afghanistan later. | The report had been brought forward in time for the Commons debate on Afghanistan later. |
| Troop options | |
| Ahead of the debate, the prime minister and Mr Arbuthnot clashed during Mr Brown's appearance before the Liaison Committee of senior MPs. | |
| Mr Brown said he could not reveal the number of British helicopters in Afghanistan for security reasons. | |
| The MP asked the prime minister whether military commanders had recommended earlier this year that an extra 2,000 troops be sent to Afghanistan but that the request had been turned down. | |
| Mr Brown said a "variety of options" regarding troops had been discussed. | |
| He added there were now 9,150 British troops in Afghanistan and the prospect of increasing this to 11,000 had "never been discussed". | |
| After Mr Arbuthnot suggested that Mr Brown had not answered his question, the prime minister said it was "wrong" to suggest the UK did not have the troops it needed to do the job. | |
| "The troops that are necessary for the mission we are engaged in now are there," he said. | |
| "I am sure we have done our best by the troops that are on the ground at the moment." | |
| He also denied cuts in the defence budget alleged by the Conservatives had resulted in a shortage of helicopters. | |
| "We have spent the right sums of money and we are prepared to do more to ensure our troops are properly equipped," he added. | |
| Black Hawk | |
| Mr Brown says it is "absolutely clear" the heavy loss of life in recent weeks was not due to a lack of helicopters. | |
| But the Tories said it was "irrefutable" that a 2004 cut in the helicopter budget was now hurting British efforts. | |
| "No amount of evasion and creative accounting can disguise the fact that our troops are being let down," said shadow defence secretary Liam Fox. | |
| The outgoing head of the British Army General Sir Richard Dannatt indicated this week that the military was struggling with a helicopter shortage. | The outgoing head of the British Army General Sir Richard Dannatt indicated this week that the military was struggling with a helicopter shortage. |
| Asked why he had been flown around in an American Black Hawk helicopter, he said it was because he did not have a British one. | Asked why he had been flown around in an American Black Hawk helicopter, he said it was because he did not have a British one. |
| "There is a pool and we share the assets, but we have got to put as much into the pool as we take out," he said. | "There is a pool and we share the assets, but we have got to put as much into the pool as we take out," he said. |
| More troops | More troops |
| He also told the BBC more troops were needed in Helmand to provide security. | He also told the BBC more troops were needed in Helmand to provide security. |
| "I have said before, we can have effect where we have boots on the ground," he said. | "I have said before, we can have effect where we have boots on the ground," he said. |
| "I don't mind whether the feet in those boots are British, American or Afghan, but we need more to have the persistent effect to give the people (of Helmand) confidence in us." | "I don't mind whether the feet in those boots are British, American or Afghan, but we need more to have the persistent effect to give the people (of Helmand) confidence in us." |
| An offensive designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections next month has seen a big increase in UK casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. | An offensive designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections next month has seen a big increase in UK casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. |
| It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq | It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq |