This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8413135.stm

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Job fears as new Chinooks ordered Job fears as new Chinooks ordered
(20 minutes later)
Thousands of jobs could be lost as the defence secretary prepares to detail cuts needed to pay for 22 new Chinook helicopters for Afghanistan. The defence secretary has announced 22 new Chinook helicopters for operations in Afghanistan but cuts are expected to be revealed later to pay for them.
Bob Ainsworth said the helicopters were being ordered over the next 10 years.Bob Ainsworth said the helicopters were being ordered over the next 10 years.
But he may announce later that they will be paid for by closing an RAF base and cutting thousands of defence jobs in Whitehall and the armed forces. But he is set to announce that they will be paid for by closing an RAF base - understood to be RAF Cottesmore in Rutland - and axing thousands of jobs.
It comes as a report accuses the MoD of driving up projects' overall budgets through short-term cost-cutting.It comes as a report accuses the MoD of driving up projects' overall budgets through short-term cost-cutting.
The BBC understands parts of RAF Kinloss, in Moray, could be mothballed as part of the spending cuts. The BBC understands RAF Cottesmore in Rutland faces closure, with the Harriers based there moving to RAF Wittering before being phased out of service altogether earlier than planned.
The Tornado force based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Marham in Norfolk will lose one squadron and it is thought parts of RAF Kinloss, in Moray, could be mothballed.
'Short-sighted''Short-sighted'
Mr Ainsworth's announcement that the government would be ordering 22 Chinooks from Boeing comes after months of criticism over the number of helicopters in operation in Helmand, in Afghanistan. Mr Ainsworth's announcement comes after months of criticism over the number of helicopters in operation in Helmand, in Afghanistan.
The first 10 new Chinooks will start to roll off the production line in 2012. The first 10 new Chinooks, made by Boeing, will start to roll off the production line in 2012. In total, the Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70.
They will fly in Afghanistan alongside Merlin helicopters which arrived in the country last month and will mean the ageing Sea Kings, used by the RAF and Royal Navy, will be retired early.
An extra C17 transport plane could also be on the cards.An extra C17 transport plane could also be on the cards.
The MoD has a multi-billion pound budgetary black hole which it is trying to fix with a 'save now, pay later' approach Amyas MorseNational Audit Office RAF Kinloss 'could be mothballed'The MoD has a multi-billion pound budgetary black hole which it is trying to fix with a 'save now, pay later' approach Amyas MorseNational Audit Office RAF Kinloss 'could be mothballed'
But the money will have to come out of the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, which is already overspent.But the money will have to come out of the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, which is already overspent.
This afternoon Mr Ainsworth is likely to announce cuts to the existing Harrier and Tornado fighter jet fleet, and a cutback of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft.This afternoon Mr Ainsworth is likely to announce cuts to the existing Harrier and Tornado fighter jet fleet, and a cutback of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft.
Andrew Brookes, a former RAF pilot and director of the Air League, which promotes the cause of British aviation, warned the plan was short-sighted.Andrew Brookes, a former RAF pilot and director of the Air League, which promotes the cause of British aviation, warned the plan was short-sighted.
He told BBC News: "If you cut back the premier league capability of the UK forces in order to just win a counter insurgency campaign against the Taliban, which has no air force and has no tanks and has no warships, when you finally do pitch up against a state that has those capabilities you could seriously end up losing a conflict that really matters to the UK in future in order to win one in Afghanistan today."He told BBC News: "If you cut back the premier league capability of the UK forces in order to just win a counter insurgency campaign against the Taliban, which has no air force and has no tanks and has no warships, when you finally do pitch up against a state that has those capabilities you could seriously end up losing a conflict that really matters to the UK in future in order to win one in Afghanistan today."
Former Conservative Defence Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he was "disturbed" by the idea of equipment cuts to fund the war in Afghanistan.Former Conservative Defence Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he was "disturbed" by the idea of equipment cuts to fund the war in Afghanistan.
He said the consensus for many years had been that the costs of fighting wars should be met from the government's contingency fund, not from the core defence budget.He said the consensus for many years had been that the costs of fighting wars should be met from the government's contingency fund, not from the core defence budget.
"That is deeply dangerous, never happened in the past and has the most ominous implications for the integrity of our armed forces.""That is deeply dangerous, never happened in the past and has the most ominous implications for the integrity of our armed forces."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
The director of the Royal United Services Institute, Professor Michael Clarke, said: "It's a matter of risks. The fact is the current programme is unaffordable, simple as that, so the Ministry of Defence is having to make some calculations as to what it can afford in the next three or four years."The director of the Royal United Services Institute, Professor Michael Clarke, said: "It's a matter of risks. The fact is the current programme is unaffordable, simple as that, so the Ministry of Defence is having to make some calculations as to what it can afford in the next three or four years."
He said decisions were being made without a defence review, which has not happened for 12 years and is not due until after the general election.He said decisions were being made without a defence review, which has not happened for 12 years and is not due until after the general election.
"We've got another year or maybe 18 months before we get some political decisions on how much does defence matter to us and what do we want to do in the world.""We've got another year or maybe 18 months before we get some political decisions on how much does defence matter to us and what do we want to do in the world."
'Negative picture''Negative picture'
Meanwhile, the spending watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO), has warned of a £36bn deficit over the next 10 years if the defence budget is not increased.Meanwhile, the spending watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO), has warned of a £36bn deficit over the next 10 years if the defence budget is not increased.
And it criticised the Ministry of Defence for trying to clear the potential deficit with a "save now, pay later" approach.And it criticised the Ministry of Defence for trying to clear the potential deficit with a "save now, pay later" approach.
The NAO cited the example of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier which has been put back to save £450m over four years - but says that will eventually increase costs by £1.12bn.The NAO cited the example of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier which has been put back to save £450m over four years - but says that will eventually increase costs by £1.12bn.
Its report said the cost of the 15 biggest military projects had increased by £1.2bn in 2008-9 alone, and £733m of that was down to deliberate delays.Its report said the cost of the 15 biggest military projects had increased by £1.2bn in 2008-9 alone, and £733m of that was down to deliberate delays.
RepatriationRepatriation
Commons public accounts committee chairman Edward Leigh said the MoD was "building up trouble for the future".Commons public accounts committee chairman Edward Leigh said the MoD was "building up trouble for the future".
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox added: "This constant failure to contain cost and keep to timetable means that taxpayers' money is being wasted and our armed forces are being denied vital equipment which has meant a reduction in capability. It is shambolic."Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox added: "This constant failure to contain cost and keep to timetable means that taxpayers' money is being wasted and our armed forces are being denied vital equipment which has meant a reduction in capability. It is shambolic."
Defence minister Quentin Davies said the government was committed to the aircraft carriers, but they would not be needed as quickly as they were being built and delaying them would have no cost for defence capability.Defence minister Quentin Davies said the government was committed to the aircraft carriers, but they would not be needed as quickly as they were being built and delaying them would have no cost for defence capability.
He said the Conservatives were "clearly planning to cancel them if they get into power".He said the Conservatives were "clearly planning to cancel them if they get into power".
It might cost more to delay projects but it was "an inescapable fact of life" that the defence budget had to be managed from year to year.It might cost more to delay projects but it was "an inescapable fact of life" that the defence budget had to be managed from year to year.
On Monday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced £150m would be spent on tackling improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.On Monday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced £150m would be spent on tackling improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.
Some 122 of the 237 British service personnel who have died in Afghanistan have been killed by explosives, most of them IEDs.Some 122 of the 237 British service personnel who have died in Afghanistan have been killed by explosives, most of them IEDs.
The body of the soldier who became the 100th British fatality in Afghanistan this year, Lance Corporal Adam Drane, is to be returned to the UK later.The body of the soldier who became the 100th British fatality in Afghanistan this year, Lance Corporal Adam Drane, is to be returned to the UK later.
Meanwhile, the first of 500 extra British troops to be deployed to Afghanistan have arrived in the country.Meanwhile, the first of 500 extra British troops to be deployed to Afghanistan have arrived in the country.
The soldiers from The 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) landed at 0505 local time (0035 GMT).The soldiers from The 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) landed at 0505 local time (0035 GMT).
Have you or any of your family served in Afghanistan? Are you affected by issues raised in this story?Have you or any of your family served in Afghanistan? Are you affected by issues raised in this story?
Send your comments using the post form below.Send your comments using the post form below.
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions