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| UK armed forces 'below strength' | UK armed forces 'below strength' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UK's armed forces have been below strength for five years, the Whitehall spending watchdog has warned. | The UK's armed forces have been below strength for five years, the Whitehall spending watchdog has warned. |
| Personnel currently total 180,690 - 5,170 below strength and a shortfall of 2.8%, the National Audit Office says. | |
| It says deployments to Afghanistan, the Balkans and Iraq have increased their workload to above the highest level permitted by the Ministry of Defence. | It says deployments to Afghanistan, the Balkans and Iraq have increased their workload to above the highest level permitted by the Ministry of Defence. |
| The report said this could add further strain to personnel. But ministers have denied the forces are overstretched. | The report said this could add further strain to personnel. But ministers have denied the forces are overstretched. |
| Defence Minister Derek Twigg admitted the forces faced a "particularly high level of operational commitment" but said steps had been taken to help. | Defence Minister Derek Twigg admitted the forces faced a "particularly high level of operational commitment" but said steps had been taken to help. |
| "We do understand the impact that frequent operational tours have on serving personnel, their friends and families and we have recently announced improvements in pay and benefits for those who are deployed on operations," he said. | "We do understand the impact that frequent operational tours have on serving personnel, their friends and families and we have recently announced improvements in pay and benefits for those who are deployed on operations," he said. |
| OVERALL PICTURE Army: 100,010 (1.8% below strength) RAF: 45,210 (4.5% below strength) Navy: 35,470 (3.6% below strength) Source: NAO (July 2006) | OVERALL PICTURE Army: 100,010 (1.8% below strength) RAF: 45,210 (4.5% below strength) Navy: 35,470 (3.6% below strength) Source: NAO (July 2006) |
| "Moreover we will continue to identify measures to address the effects of this period of high operational tempo and are restructuring our forces to spread the load more evenly." | "Moreover we will continue to identify measures to address the effects of this period of high operational tempo and are restructuring our forces to spread the load more evenly." |
| Looking at the period of 30 months leading to January this year, the report said 14.5% of Army personnel had been sent on operations more frequently than the service's "harmony guidelines" deemed acceptable. | Looking at the period of 30 months leading to January this year, the report said 14.5% of Army personnel had been sent on operations more frequently than the service's "harmony guidelines" deemed acceptable. |
| This figure rose to 40% in jobs which suffered particular shortages, such as vehicle mechanics and armourers. | This figure rose to 40% in jobs which suffered particular shortages, such as vehicle mechanics and armourers. |
| In the Royal Navy, some ships have sailed 12% below strength, said the report, which also claimed the numbers leaving the forces early had risen to 9,200 last year. | In the Royal Navy, some ships have sailed 12% below strength, said the report, which also claimed the numbers leaving the forces early had risen to 9,200 last year. |
| It must exhaust our service men and women and put immense strain on their personal lives Edward LeighPublic accounts committee | It must exhaust our service men and women and put immense strain on their personal lives Edward LeighPublic accounts committee |
| But that had not prevented the forces as a whole meeting 98% of their recruitment targets since 2000-01. | But that had not prevented the forces as a whole meeting 98% of their recruitment targets since 2000-01. |
| Edward Leigh, the chairman of the Commons public accounts committee which examines the work of the NAO, said: "Given the ferocity of the challenges they face in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, this is intolerable. | Edward Leigh, the chairman of the Commons public accounts committee which examines the work of the NAO, said: "Given the ferocity of the challenges they face in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, this is intolerable. |
| "It must exhaust our service men and women and put immense strain on their personal lives. | "It must exhaust our service men and women and put immense strain on their personal lives. |
| "It comes as no surprise that in the last two years the number of people leaving has gone up. "The MoD is trying to address this, but it doesn't have a convincing long term strategic approach." | "It comes as no surprise that in the last two years the number of people leaving has gone up. "The MoD is trying to address this, but it doesn't have a convincing long term strategic approach." |