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| Iraq and Afghan costs 'to double' | Iraq and Afghan costs 'to double' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The costs of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq this year are likely to almost double to £3.3bn, a committee of MPs has warned. | |
| The Commons defence committee said operational costs for this financial year were now forecast to reach £3.297bn - a 94% increase on last year. | The Commons defence committee said operational costs for this financial year were now forecast to reach £3.297bn - a 94% increase on last year. |
| This included a "surprising" 72% rise in Iraq to £1.648bn, despite ongoing falls in troop numbers. | |
| Last year's total spending on the two conflicts was £1.698bn. | Last year's total spending on the two conflicts was £1.698bn. |
| The cost of the Afghan conflict would rise 122% to £1.649 this year, the MPs said. | |
| While the committee recommended that the House of Commons should accept the estimates, it said the Ministry of Defence needed to provide more information on how the additional cash was being spent. | While the committee recommended that the House of Commons should accept the estimates, it said the Ministry of Defence needed to provide more information on how the additional cash was being spent. |
| Chairman James Arbuthnot said: "Few people will object to the investment being made in better facilities and equipment for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Chairman James Arbuthnot said: "Few people will object to the investment being made in better facilities and equipment for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| "However, this estimate represents a lot of public money. The MoD needs to provide better information about what it is all being spent on." | "However, this estimate represents a lot of public money. The MoD needs to provide better information about what it is all being spent on." |