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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Troop shortages 'a clear danger' | Troop shortages 'a clear danger' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A personnel shortage is creating a "clear danger" that the military will be unable to maintain its commitments in the near future, MPs have warned. | A personnel shortage is creating a "clear danger" that the military will be unable to maintain its commitments in the near future, MPs have warned. |
| The Commons Defence Committee said the services also lacked some of the equipment they needed. | The Commons Defence Committee said the services also lacked some of the equipment they needed. |
| Such problems could affect morale and readiness to "fight the next war". | Such problems could affect morale and readiness to "fight the next war". |
| The Tories said the report showed the military was "overstretched" but ministers insisted current missions were "sustainable". | The Tories said the report showed the military was "overstretched" but ministers insisted current missions were "sustainable". |
| The Ministry of Defence said its commanders believed they had the manpower they needed to cope. | The Ministry of Defence said its commanders believed they had the manpower they needed to cope. |
| 'Widely held view' | 'Widely held view' |
| With major deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, and forces working in a total of 28 countries, the committee found the services were operating "in insufficient numbers and without all the equipment they need". | With major deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, and forces working in a total of 28 countries, the committee found the services were operating "in insufficient numbers and without all the equipment they need". |
| The Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had been "reflecting a view widely held in the armed services" when he said that relations between the armed forces and the government could be undermined if current levels of commitment were maintained. | The Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had been "reflecting a view widely held in the armed services" when he said that relations between the armed forces and the government could be undermined if current levels of commitment were maintained. |
| Our service personnel always rise to the challenges that they are set, but that should not lead us to take them for granted James ArbuthnotDefence committee chairman | Our service personnel always rise to the challenges that they are set, but that should not lead us to take them for granted James ArbuthnotDefence committee chairman |
| The committee, which looked at the Ministry of Defence's annual report for 2005-06, also called on the MoD to produce evidence to support its assessment that it is "on course" to achieve objectives in Iraq and Afghanistan. | The committee, which looked at the Ministry of Defence's annual report for 2005-06, also called on the MoD to produce evidence to support its assessment that it is "on course" to achieve objectives in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| The MoD has declined to release its analysis for security reasons. | The MoD has declined to release its analysis for security reasons. |
| The committee found all three services were breaching "harmony" guidelines designed to ensure personnel get recuperation and training. | The committee found all three services were breaching "harmony" guidelines designed to ensure personnel get recuperation and training. |
| "Whether UK armed forces are stretched or overstretched is a matter for continued debate," the report said. | "Whether UK armed forces are stretched or overstretched is a matter for continued debate," the report said. |
| "What is certain is that they are operating in challenging conditions in insufficient numbers and without all the equipment they need. | "What is certain is that they are operating in challenging conditions in insufficient numbers and without all the equipment they need. |
| "With problems of undermanning continuing, there is a clear danger that the armed forces will not be capable of maintaining current commitments over the medium term." | "With problems of undermanning continuing, there is a clear danger that the armed forces will not be capable of maintaining current commitments over the medium term." |
| Future challenges | Future challenges |
| The MPs added: "It is clear that the current level of commitments is impacting on training. | The MPs added: "It is clear that the current level of commitments is impacting on training. |
| "Over time this will impact on military effectiveness and on the armed forces' ability to 'fight the next war', which could present entirely different challenges." | "Over time this will impact on military effectiveness and on the armed forces' ability to 'fight the next war', which could present entirely different challenges." |
| The committee raised concerns about equipment shortages - particularly the availability of serviceable battlefield helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan and air transport to ferry troops to and from these theatres. | The committee raised concerns about equipment shortages - particularly the availability of serviceable battlefield helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan and air transport to ferry troops to and from these theatres. |
| But there was "no evidence that reported overstretch has led to a mass exodus" of personnel. | But there was "no evidence that reported overstretch has led to a mass exodus" of personnel. |
| The MoD's planning assumptions, on which the manning requirement is based, envisage one medium-scale and two small-scale operations at a time. | The MoD's planning assumptions, on which the manning requirement is based, envisage one medium-scale and two small-scale operations at a time. |
| The forces have been operating well above this level for some time without any adjustment in assumptions, said the committee. | The forces have been operating well above this level for some time without any adjustment in assumptions, said the committee. |
| Committee chairman James Arbuthnot said: "Our service personnel always rise to the challenges that they are set, but that should not lead us to take them for granted." | Committee chairman James Arbuthnot said: "Our service personnel always rise to the challenges that they are set, but that should not lead us to take them for granted." |
| Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "If we damage the morale of our troops by over-deploying them in this way and then on top of that adding insult to injury on their allowances it's much more difficult to retain them in the services." | Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "If we damage the morale of our troops by over-deploying them in this way and then on top of that adding insult to injury on their allowances it's much more difficult to retain them in the services." |
| Mr Blair had promised to "deliver whatever package the armed forces want," he added. | Mr Blair had promised to "deliver whatever package the armed forces want," he added. |
| "If his word means anything, then he must address the mismatch between our military commitments and the decrease in our frontline capabilities," said Dr Fox. | |
| The MoD said the committee had found its overall performance was satisfactory and had commended efforts to improve the retention of armed forces personnel. | |
| It added in a statement: "The MoD is keenly aware of the burdens which operations place on our people and, although the current level of operational activity is higher than planned, it is sustainable. | It added in a statement: "The MoD is keenly aware of the burdens which operations place on our people and, although the current level of operational activity is higher than planned, it is sustainable. |
| "Commanders are content that the armed forces can cope with the current level of military commitments." | "Commanders are content that the armed forces can cope with the current level of military commitments." |
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